Dip Pen Lithography
Dip Pen Lithography - Related Videos
07:53
Soft Lithography
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2023
Many BioMEM devices, such as microfluidic channels, are fabricated using the soft lithography technique. Here, a microscale pattern is replicated by curing an elastomeric polymer over the 3D structure. These polymeric structures are then used to create a wide range of devices, ranging from microfluidic channels for biosensing applications to microscale bioreactors for the visualization of micro-colonies. This video introduces photolithography and demonstrates the technique in the laboratory.
10:09
Capillary Force Lithography for Cardiac Tissue Engineering
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Cited by 27 •
2014
In this protocol, we demonstrate the fabrication of biomimetic cardiac cell culture substrata made from two distinct polymeric materials using capillary force lithography. The described methods provide a scalable, cost-effective technique to engineer the structure and function of macroscopic cardiac tissues for in vitro and in vivo applications.
08:21
Fabrication of Periodic Gold Nanocup Arrays Using Colloidal Lithography
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Cited by 1 •
2017
We demonstrate the fabrication of periodic gold nanocup arrays using colloidal lithographic techniques and discuss the importance of nanoplasmonic films.
05:58
Plasma Lithography Surface Patterning for Creation of Cell Networks
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Cited by 16 •
2011
A versatile plasma lithography technique has been developed to generate stable surface patterns for guiding cellular attachment. This technique can be applied to create cell networks including those that mimic natural tissues and has been used for studying several, distinct cell types.
09:24
Micropunching Lithography for Generating Micro- and Submicron-patterns on Polymer Substrates
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Cited by 1 •
2012
A micropunching lithography approach is developed to generate micro- and submicron-patterns on top, sidewall and bottom surfaces of polymer substrates. It overcomes the obstacles of patterning conducting polymers and generating sidewall patterns. This method allows rapid fabrication of multiple features and is free of aggressive chemistry.
FAQs
The liquid meniscus provides the transient pathway between the coated tip and substrate. As ink molecules diffuse across this bridge, they assemble on the contacted region. This mechanism links local delivery to defined molecular features, allowing the deposited chemistry to be positioned with the tip’s movement and interaction with the surface.
Tip motion, contact time, humidity, and ink properties all influence pattern size. Faster or slower movement changes how long ink can reach a given location, while contact time affects local transfer. Humidity helps determine meniscus conditions, and ink properties influence diffusion and assembly. Controlling these variables is therefore essential for reproducible lines and dots.
Molecular assembly determines how transferred biomolecules form the final chemical pattern rather than merely depositing material at random. Because proteins, peptides, DNA, and related inks can be arranged into lines or dots, their spatial organization creates controlled chemical cues on a substrate. That control is valuable when studying how localized signals influence cells or sensing interfaces.
The process begins by coating an atomic force microscope tip with molecular ink. The tip then contacts or approaches a compatible substrate, where a meniscus enables transfer. Moving the tip while controlling its interaction with the surface produces selected lines, dots, or other structures. Researchers can adjust motion and contact conditions to tune the resulting pattern.
Selection should match the intended biomolecular pattern and the substrate’s compatibility with deposition. Proteins, peptides, DNA, and other biomolecules may serve as molecular inks, while the surface must support their assembly into defined features. Humidity, contact time, tip motion, and ink properties also require control because they affect transfer and pattern size.
Dip Pen Lithography is useful when researchers need spatially organized molecular cues rather than an unpatterned coating. In bioengineering, its biomolecular patterns support cell-adhesion studies, biosensor fabrication, and tissue-interface engineering. The resulting lines, dots, or other structures can place proteins, peptides, DNA, or related chemistry at defined locations for controlled experiments.
By arranging biomolecules at controlled locations, Dip Pen Lithography creates microscale chemical cues that can be presented to cells or incorporated into sensing surfaces. Researchers can then examine cell adhesion or investigate how spatially organized chemistry regulates cell behavior. The same patterning capability also contributes to tissue-interface engineering and biosensor fabrication, connecting nanoscale placement with bioengineering function.