Thin Films Seminar
Friday, April 5, 2002, 3:15pm, 216 Physics
Stefan Zauscher (Duke University)
Fabrication of Biomolecular and Polymeric Nanostructures

Abstract:

The ability to pattern surfaces with biomolecules and polymers on the micrometer size-scale has led to numerous applications that include the development of biosensors, proteomic chips, microfluidic devices, and substrates for fundamental cell biology research. The attempt to scale down micropatterning methodologies to the nanoscale is driven by several scientific imperatives: (1) larger address densities are required to achieve higher throughput screening and smaller sample volumes in biotechnology applications, (2) sub-micron feature sizes would allow precisely localized presentation of chemical or topographical stimuli to single cells in cell biology research, and (3) extrinsic, triggered control of interfacial properties at submicrometer length scales holds significant promise for actuation in bio-nanotechnology applications, where transport, separation and detection of many biomolecules are performed in aqueous liquids. I will present some of our nanopatterning strategies that combine scanning probe lithography, such as "Dip-Pen" nanolithography (DPN), with surface initiated polymerization (SIP) or direct deposition and promises an inexpensive, "bottom-up" approach to create the required complex, functional, and biologically inspired macromolecular architectures. The hierarchical organization in these architectures demands control over spatial position and orientation, which, at molecular length scales, is most easily achieved through directed self-assembly on nanopatterned surfaces. The novel fabrication schemes promise unprecedented control over spatial pattern resolution and make possible devices which enable ligand presentation with sub-micrometer lateral resolution.

---

Generated at 4:53am Thursday, April 25, 2024 by Mcal.   Top * Reload * Login