Patterning and regeneration of surfaces with antibodies

We describe the application of a new technique for the site-specific immobilization of six different proteins within an area of 200 microns x 50 microns. The procedure involves coating the surface with deglycosylated avidin, which binds a photoactive biotin analogue, so providing a light-addressable surface onto which proteins can be immobilized. This is the first time that consecutive patterning of a number of different proteins has been described, and we demonstrate this with the fabrication of an immunospot for the qualitative visualization of the binding of multiple antigens. We also show that such a structured surface can be readily regenerated and subsequently repatterned.