Immobilization of biomolecules on porous surface is of special interest to manufacture bioassays and low cost paper diagnostics. Biomolecules and living cells are very sensitive to the manufacture and application conditions. Bioassays and sensors relying on optical and conductive/potential detection can require a lateral resolution better than 100μm. Therefore the deposition of biomolecules needs the perfect control of the droplet-surface interaction. Moreover, the ability to control the placement of cells and the biomolecules in vitro has great potential for understanding the regulation of development.

Ink-jet printing can be a technology of choice to deposit biomolecules on substrate/scaffold. This research addresses the fundamental issues required for the ink-jet printing of neuron cells on scaffold. The objective of this study is to control the growth pattern of neuron cell using printing technology. Two approaches are investigated: first, the direct application of neuron cells on Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold; second, the engineering of a concentration gradient of growth agent (peptide) for the controlled patterned of neuron growth. The neurons growth of both approaches are analyzed and compared. This study improves our understanding of biosurface engineering using ink-jet technology.