Particle replication in non-wetting templates

Recently it has been shown that hydrogel layers of variable thickness can be prepared on solid substrates by photolithographic technique [47], The technique called PRINT (particle replication in non-wetting templates) [48,49] utilizes elastomeric molds from a low surface energy perfluoropolyether network. The molds prevent the formation of an interconnecting film between molded objects and allow production of monodisperse microgel particles of different sizes, shapes, compositions, and surface functionalities. 

Microfabrication offers a way to produce homogeneous monodisperse particles that are not only spherical particles with controlled or asymmetrical shapes and architectures with a specific size can also be fabricated, which is not possible with the other methods. This method uses soft templates to produce monodisperse particles wherein the template can be fully dissolved in aqueous solutions once the particles are formed. There are many different methods of microfabrication particle replication in non wetting templates [72], microcontact hot printing [73], step and flash imprint lithography [74], and... 

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