Surface biofunctionalization and production of miniaturized sensor structures using aerosol printing technologies

Area of Science:

• * Materials Science and Engineering
• * Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• * Existing deposition methods often struggle with preserving the integrity of delicate biological molecules like proteins and DNA.
• * Need for high-resolution printing techniques applicable to complex, non-planar surfaces for micro-device fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To demonstrate the efficacy of aerosol printing for depositing nanoscale biological and metal suspensions without denaturation.
• * To evaluate the capabilities of aerosol printing for fabricating miniaturized sensor structures and functionalizing surfaces.

Main Methods:

• * Formulation of metal and biological suspensions, followed by nebulization into an aerosol.
• * Aerodynamic focusing of the aerosol stream for precise deposition onto substrates up to 5 mm from the printhead.
• * Fabrication of silver sensor structures on glass, followed by sintering and printing of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA).

Main Results:

• * Successful deposition of proteins and DNA without denaturation or shearing, preserving biological activity.
• * Fabrication of miniaturized sensor structures with micrometer line thicknesses and achieved electrical conductivity after sintering.
• * Printing of BSA in micrometer-sized areas within the sensor structure.

Conclusions:

• * Aerosol printing technology offers a versatile platform for high-resolution, non-denaturing deposition of nanoscale materials.
• * This technology facilitates biological surface functionalization on small areas, crucial for innovative biomedical micro-devices.
• * Aerosol printing presents promising production solutions bridging biology and electronics.