A novel and versatile soft lithography method, i.e. thermal pressing method has been established to create colloid arrays by using multilevel inks. Patterned poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamp containing silicone dioxide microparticles was pressed into a polycaprolactone (PCL) film at the temperature around the T-m of PCL. Subsequent removal of the colloids left cavity arrays. By initially incorporating chitosan, albumin or CdTe quantum dots into the silicone dioxide microparticles, removal of the ordered SiO2 microspheres would then release these substances which were stably embedded into the PCL matrices or suspended in the interiors of the cellular structures. By coating the SiO2 microspheres with multilayers previously, thin covers on the cellular structures could be obtained after removal of the templates. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.