The development of hydrogel microstructures has revolutionised cell studies by providing a versatile and physiologically relevant platform

that emulates the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Hydrogels, composed of hydrophilic polymer networks, exhibit high water content,

biocompatibility and adjustable mechanical properties, making them ideal scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) cell study. In this article,

we characterised the microstructures formed by 3 different hydrogels by means of vacuum lithography and photopolymerisation technique.15

It was then confirmed that it is possible to combine these hydrogels with mesenchymal cells, generating copatterning of hydrogel

microstures and cells. Taking into account the limitations that the hydrogels showed in terms of the stability of their microstructures, we

proceeded to characterise another type of gels called ionogels that presented different properties and greater stability. The possibility of

culturing cells next to the microstructures formed by these ionogels was also explored. We believe that this project lays the groundwork

for the generation of more complex hydrogel and ionogel microstructures for the study of cells.