Scanning Probes for the Life Sciences

Scanning probe based patterning techniques have the unique ability to deposit biological material into specific architectures on substrates and read and analyze the patterns using an atomic force microscope. Such devices are able to make much smaller biomolecule patterns, on the order of nanometers, than conventional techniques such as microcontact printing and optical lithography. A reduction in patterned feature size allows for greater sensitivity in biological studies and in life sciences applications such as drug screening and immunoassays. A variety of tools for the fabrication of nanoarrays are discussed. These include open- and closed-channel devices and pipette-based devices. Their potential for the integration of active components or augmentation to large-scale arrays for high-throughput deposition are examined. The mechanisms for deposition and biomolecule transport are also explained.