Fabrication of biological arrays by unconventional lithographic methods

Biological arrays with dimensions less than 100 nm are emerging as a new tool for biological research in the fields of genomics, proteomics, cell analysis, and tissue engineering. In this review, unconventional lithographic methods for the fabrication of biological arrays are summarized and compared in terms of spot size, density, resolution and ease in fabrication. The methods are classified into three categories: a) direct transfer of biological species on the substrate, b) selective deposition on the patterned surface using an adhesion-controlled template material, and c) stencil or membrane-based deposition on specific regions of a substrate. This review would be useful to related researchers in bioscience and bioengineering.