The ability to control the physical environment at subcellular scales is critical to understanding cell and tissue behaviors regulated by extracellular interactions. However, open platform technology that allows one to create combinatorial physical environments is not readily available. This thesis describes the development of a low-cost system for creating complex hydrogel and ligand patterns using maskless lithography. Specifically, it incorporates light paths with interchangeable wavelengths to facilitate a broad range of chemistries. In addition, it also includes a motorized stage with an adaptable platform that can hold different conventional cell culture vessels. Finally, I have developed a LabVIEW interface that allows one to create repeating patterns across different wells quickly and easily. Taken together, this technology will enable more rapid probing of mechanobiological regulation for applications in tissue engineering, drug discovery, and developmental biology.

Metastatic cancer is more dangerous and difficult to treat than pre-metastatic cancer. Ninety percent of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastatic cancer. When cells go through metastases, they go through changes that allow them to break away from the primary tumor and invade secondary tissues. These changes, in lipid membrane composition and cellular glycocalyx, make the cell more resistant to therapeutics. Actin cytoskeleton contractility plays a major role in these changes, as increased contractility has been linked to upregulation of phosphoinositides and production of glycoproteins. Light induced molecular adsorption of proteins (LIMAP) was used to control the actin arrangement and cell shape in order to mimic and study metastatic cells. Negatively charged proteins electrostatically adhere to the surface in order to create patterns for the cells to stick. Neutravidin was conjugated to poly(glutamic acid) to improve attachment to the surface. We observed differences in cell shape and phosphoinositide behavior based on LIMAP patterning. Additionally, expression of key glycoproteins related to cancer metastasis increased with increased actin contractility. The actin cytoskeleton was the main driver of changes to the cell membrane and glycocalyx.