Patterning multiple antibodies on polystyrene

A method for patterning different antibodies on polystyrene is described. The polystyrene surface is coated with a material resistant to antibody adsorption and the coating material is selectively removed from the region where antibody adsorption is desired, exposing clean polystyrene. Upon immersion of the substrate in antibody solution, antibodies adsorb to the clean polystyrene, but not to the coated areas of the surface. Two methods have been used to remove the coating: ion beam sputtering and mechanical etching. The pattern was verified using gold-labeled antigen in conjunction with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and with FITC-labeled antigen and fluorescence microscopy. Substrates patterned in this way could be used in conjunction with a charge-coupled detector for a multi-analyte biosensor. This patterning technique is suitable for applications in which a fast, inexpensive fabrication process is necessary, for example, in single-use sensors.