MICROPATTERNING OF BIOMOLECULES ON POLYMER SUBSTRATES

UV-excimer laser photoablation was used, in combination with surface b locking techniques, to pattern proteins on the surfaces of polyimide a nd poly(ethylene terephthalate). This technique involves physical adso rption of avidin through laser-defined openings in low-temperature lam inates or adsorbed protein blocking layers. Visualization of biomolecu lar patterns were monitored using avidin and fluorescein-labeled bioti n as a model receptor-ligand couple. Adsorbed proteins could be shown to bind to UV-laser-treated polymer surfaces up to three times higher than on commercially available polymers. UV-laser photoablation was al so used for the generation of three-dimensional structure, which leads to the possibility of biomolecule patterning within polymer-based mic roanalytical systems. The simplicity and easy handling of the describe d technique facilitate its application in microdiagnostic devices.