Strategies for Patterning Biomolecules with Dip‐Pen Nanolithography

Abstract

Dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) is an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based lithography technique, which has the ability to fabricate patterns with a feature size down to approximately 15 nm using both top-down and bottom-up approaches. DPN utilizes the water meniscus formed between an AFM tip and a substrate to transfer ink molecules onto surfaces. A major application of this technique is the fabrication of micro- and nano-arrays of patterned biomolecules. To achieve this goal, a variety of chemical approaches has been used. This review concisely describes the development of DPN in the past decade and presents the related chemical strategies that have been reported to fabricate biomolecular patterns with DPN at micrometer and nanometer scale, classified into direct- and indirect DPN methodologies, discussing tip-functionalization strategies as well.

How cells respond to environmental cues – insights from bio-functionalized substrates

“…Passive diffusion of a chemoattractant across a porous membrane has also been used to create local gradients in the absence of flow (Dupin et al, 2013). Furthermore, imprinting of protein gradients on rigid substrates (Ricoult et al, 2015;Wu et al, 2011) or controlled stenciling and/or photo-immobilization techniques (Bélisle et al, 2009(Bélisle et al, , 2012Strale et al, 2016) has revealed the molecular basis for haptotaxis, the migration of cells along an ECM gradient. In addition, the use of 3D matrix hydrogels containing smooth gradients of crosslinking density (i.e.…”

Current Trends and Challenges in Biointerfaces Science and Engineering

“…In addition, a plurality of different inks, including small molecules as well as biomacromolecules, can be processed by DPN (86)(87)(88). The deployment of multi-pin arrays has facilitated larger-area printing (47). Successful multiplexing of multiple biomacromolecules via DPN was demonstrated by recent work aimed at creating lipid membrane microstructures for cell culture studies (89).…”

Nanotechnologies in Protein Microarrays

“…The label-free detection technologies such as SPR [81], QCM [82], SELDI [83] and AFM [84] and advanced label-based detection technologies such as quantum dots [85], gold nanoparticles [86], carbon nanotubes [87] have been discussed in many recent reviews for the detection of micro arrays. This chapter is aimed on short summary of single t echniques to provide a concise overview for a reader.…”