Printing patterns of proteins

Abstract

Microcontact printing of proteins proves to be an excellent means of directly patterning biomolecules on solid substrates. Monolayer quantities of protein equilibrated on the surface of a hydrophobic, elastomeric stamp are immobilized there to rinses with buffer. These biomolecules can nevertheless transfer with >99% efficiency from the stamp to a substrate after just 1 s of contact. This capability allows the simple creation of functional patterns of proteins at scales that involve the placement of < 1000 molecules in well-defined locations on a surface. The method is suited for the transfer of proteins of many different types onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic substrates.