Printing patterns of proteins

Microcontact printing of proteins proves to be an excellent means of directly patterning biomolecules on solid substrates. Monolayer quantities of protein equilibrated on the surface of a hydrophobic, elastomeric stamp are immobilized there to rinses with buffer. These biomolecules can nevertheless transfer with > 99% efficiency from the stamp to a substrate after just 1 s of contact. This capability allows the simple creation of functional patterns of proteins at scales that involve the placement of < 1000 molecules in well-defined locations on a surface. The method is suited for the transfer of proteins of many different types onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic substrates.