Large area two-dimensional B cell arrays for sensing and cell-sorting applications

Regular arrays of nonadherent B cells over large areas were produced with the use of micropatterned molecular templates consisting of a newly designed poly(allylamine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) polycation graft copolymer. Polymer-on-polymer stamping (POPS) techniques were applied successfully to create micron scale patterns of the graft copolymer on negatively charged multilayer surfaces without losing resistance to the nonspecific adsorption of proteins. To generate templates for B cell arrays, the characteristics of the patterned surface were modified via introduction of surface biotinylation and specific protein adsorption. The qualities of B cell arrays resulting from each template suggest the binding strength between nonadherent B cells and the template surface is the controlling factor in the fabrication of clean and regular arrays of immobilized lymphocytes over large areas, which is critical in many bio-technological and immunological applications.