Non-contact protein microarray fabrication using a procedure based on liquid bridge formation

Abstract

Contemporary microarrayers of contact or non-contact format used in protein microarray fabrication still suffer from a number of problems, e.g. generation of satellite spots, inhomogeneous spots, misplaced or even absent spots, and sample carryover. In this paper, a new concept of non-contact sample deposition that reduces such problems is introduced. To show the potential and robustness of this pressure-assisted deposition technique, different sample solutions known to cause severe problems or to be even impossible to print with conventional microarrayers were accurately printed. The samples included 200 mg mL(-1) human serum albumin, highly concentrated sticky cell adhesion proteins, pure high-salt cell-lysis buffer, pure DMSO, and a suspension of 5-microm polystyrene beads. Additionally, a water-immiscible liquid fluorocarbon, which was shown not to affect the functionality of the capture molecules, was employed as a lid to reduce evaporation during microarray printing. The fluorocarbon liquid lid was shown to circumvent hydrolysis of water-sensitive activated surfaces during long-term deposition procedures.

Automation of Three-Dimensional Cell Culture in Arrayed Microfluidic Devices

“…This method has also been employed to select biopolymers that induce a specific response in cells 17, 18 , and to examine the combinatorial effect that different growth factors have on cell growth and differentiation 19 . Although cellular microarrays show promise for various screening applications, robotic spotting techniques have limitations such as the generation of satellite spots, inhomogeneous spots, misplaced or absent spots, and carryover of samples 20 . Khetani el al.…”

Liquid-Column Sustainment Driven by Acoustic Wave Guiding

“…The control of the geometry and stability of liquid columns is of paramount importance in many processes implemented at scales ranging from macroscopic to nanometric, such as float-zone crystal growth [1], liquid jet polishing of optics [2], wire and fiber coating [3], protein microarray fabrication [4], or nanolithography [5]. The long term sustainment of liquid columns with large and controllable aspect ratios is naturally challenging on account of interfacial energy minimization [6].…”

Microscale screening systems for 3D cellular microenvironments: platforms, advances, and challenges

“…Cellular microarrays are fabricated using contact and non-contact printing techniques previously utilized in DNA and protein microarrays [37–39]. The advancement in robotic spotting and microprinting technologies introduced cellular microarrays as attractive screening platforms for incorporating ECM molecules in cell cultures and for identifying key cell-biomaterials and cell-ECM interactions.…”