Block-Cell-Printing for live single-cell printing

Significance The ability of printing single-cell arrays with high precision and efficiency, single-cell resolution, multiple cell types, and maintenance of cell viability and function is essential for cell function and heterogeneity measurement. It is still hard for current methods to completely satisfy the above requirements. We report a unique live-cell printing technique, Block-Cell-Printing, that allows for convenient, precise, multiplexed, and high-throughput printing of functional single-cell arrays. Block-Cell-Printing has a minimum turnaround time of 0.5 h, a maximum resolution of 5 µm, and close to 100% cell viability. This method has been applied to study cell communications in heterotypic cell pairs with controlled morphology, characterize cells’ abilities to extend their membranes, and print primary neurons.