Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) is a powerful and versatile technique for nano- to micro-scale patterning. DPN entails loading the probe of an atomic force microscope (AFM) with a desired molecule which is then deposited in a specific pattern onto the substrate of interest. Since the introduction of DPN in 1999 a variety of molecules have been deposited, including proteins, alkylthiols (self-assembled monolayers) and metal salts. Deposition may be driven by covalent, electrostatic, or electrochemical forces. Here we describe the use of DPN for nano-scale patterning of biotemplates which can subsequently be used as biomineralization precursors or molecular building blocks for nanoscale structures.
Laura A. Sowards, Kristi M. Singh, Morley O. Stone, Rajesh R. Naik, "Deposition of Biotemplates using Dip-Pen Nanolithography" in Proc. IS&T Digital Fabrication Conf., 2005, pp 49 - 51, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2005.21.2.art00018_3