Independently controlling protein dot size and spacing in particle lithography

Langmuir. 2012 Jun 26;28(25):9656-63. doi: 10.1021/la300806m. Epub 2012 Jun 14.

Abstract

Particle lithography is a relatively simple, inexpensive technique used to pattern inorganics, metals, polymers, and biological molecules on the micro- and nanometer scales. Previously, we used particle lithography to create hexagonal patterns of protein dots in a protein resistant background of methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-silane (mPEG-sil). In this work, we describe a simple heating procedure to overcome a potential limitation of particle lithography: the simultaneous change in feature size and center-to-center spacing as the diameter of the spheres used in the lithographic mask is changed. Uniform heating was used to make single-diameter protein patterns with dot sizes of approximately 2-4 or 2-8 μm, depending on the diameter of the spheres used in the lithographic mask, while differential heating was used to make a continuous gradient of dot sizes of approximately 1-9 μm on a single surface. We demonstrate the applicability of these substrates by observing the differences in neutrophil spreading on patterned and unpatterned protein coated surfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Size
  • Colloids
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Immobilized Proteins / chemistry
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / cytology
  • Printing / methods*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • P-selectin ligand protein
  • Proteins
  • src-Family Kinases