Printing novel molecular architectures with micrometer resolution using light.

In this paper we present a new photonic technology and demonstrate that it allows for precise immobilisation of proteins to sensor surfaces. The new technology secures spatially controlled molecular immobilisation since the immobilisation of each molecule to a support surface can be limited to the focal point of the UV laser beam, with dimensions as small as a few micrometers. We have demonstrated that we are not limited to immobilising molecules according to conventional patterns like microarrays. We can immobilise molecules on a surface with any arbitrary pattern. The different illumination/immobilisation setups presented expand the capabilities and usefulness of the new technology, since immobilisation can both be achieved with a laser system and with an affordable Xenon lamp setup. Of extreme relevance to the success of this technology is the precise knowledge of photon flux, energy flux, total number of photons per area, fluency and peak intensity. The expected resolution, taken into account the size of the focused laser beam, the precision of translation stage, and the scanner resolution of our laser scanner is in good agreement with the experimental resolution obtained. The flexibility of this new technology allows creating any patterns/ structures of molecules, with micrometer resolution, thus being of relevance for present and future nanotechnological applications.