PATTERNED DELIVERY OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS TO SURFACES USING MICROFLUIDIC NETWORKS

Microfluidic networks (mu FNs) were used to pattern biomolecules with high resolution on a variety of substrates (gold, glass, or polystyren e). Elastomeric mu FNs localized chemical reactions between the biomol ecules and the surface, requiring only microliters of reagent to cover square millimeter-sized areas. The networks were designed to ensure s tability and filling of the mu FN and allowed a homogeneous distributi on and robust attachment of material to the substrate along the condui ts in the mu FN. Immunoglobulins patterned on substrates by means of m u FNs remained strictly confined to areas enclosed by the network with submicron resolution and were viable for subsequent use in assays. Th e approach is simple and general enough to suggest a practical way to incorporate biological material on technological substrates.