The fabrication of protein nano arrays using 3-dimensional plastic nanopillar patterns

A plastic nanopillar array was used as the basis for development of a cheap, spatially patterned immobilization method that was applied to nano biochips. A plastic nanopillar array (diameter: 500 nm, height: 1.2 microm) was fabricated using poly(urethane acrylate) (PUA) by simple and fast UV-curable soft lithography. Antibodies were immobilized on top of the nanopillar structure due to the 'lotus effect'; the aqueous solution containing proteins could only contact the top portion of the nanopillar array due to the hydrophobicity of the surface. This phenomenon was verified by atomic force microscopy and confocal microscopy. Optimal conditions were investigated to effectively generate a clear protein pattern on the nanopillar array. The immunoreaction capability of captured antibodies immobilized on the nano pattern was validated using various concentrations of complimentary antibodies.