Porous multilayer-coated AFM tips for dip-pen nanolithography of proteins.
A simple and novel method for fabricating nanoporous-structure-coated silicon nitride tips for dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) by using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique has been developed. The pore sizes can be adjusted by treating the LbL films coated onto the amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer (NH(2)-SAM)-functionalized AFM tip surface with a base solution for different periods of time. This hydrophilic porous material can absorb biomolecules easily and also provides a larger-volume ink reservoir compared with a bare silicon nitride tip. Proof-of-concept of the porous AFM tip is demonstrated by using fluorescent proteins as ink molecules to fabricate protein patterns at the micrometer and submicrometer length scales.
Laboratory of Supramolecular Chemistry and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Chien-Ching
CC
Wu
Huaping
H
Xu
Cees
C
Otto
David N
DN
Reinhoudt
Rob G H
RG
Lammertink
Jurriaan
J
Huskens
Vinod
V
Subramaniam
Aldrik H
AH
Velders
D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
D000179:Acrylates; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011506:Proteins; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C019535:poly(4-vinylpyridine); C032734:silicon nitride