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Micro-Contact Printing instruments µ-CP 3.0 and PVM-A

The printing of microarrays, e.g. with the GeSiM Nano-Plotter , produces surface structures that are at least 50 µm large. For finer structures down to approx. 100 nanometers, microcontact printing (µ-CP) is established as the method of choice. A three-dimensional shaped stamp transfers it's surface layout onto a planar target structure.

Key Benefits

  • "3 in 1": Micro-contact Printing, Nano Imprint Lithography, Particle Deposition with flow-through stamps on the same platform
  • Reproducible and accurate image transfer by patented stamping process
  • Almost no operation costs - layout specific PDMS stamps to be made by the customer; tools are included
  • Process development at low budget: Both the handheld PVM-A and the semi-automatic µ-CP3.0 feature the same stamping technique
  • Easy to use and robust benchtop instrument

1 - Micro Contact Printing (µ-CP) for 2-dimensional prints

This process transfers a sample liquid called "ink" onto a planar target surface. The PDMS stamp is inked with the sample, subsequently pressed onto the surface, thereby transferring the sample only from the high areas, as in letterpress printing.

Not only chemicals, but also biomolecules, nanoparticles, beads, or cells can be printed, which is why the method is getting attention in the life science. Patterns of proteins like fibronectin or laminin can serve as adhesive substrate to grow cells only on protein-covered areas.

Start

   

Inking

   

Drying    Stamping   
2D-Patterns

2 - Nano Imprint Lithography (NIL) for 3-dimensional structures

Instead of transferring an ink, the elevated patterns of the PDMS stamp shape their reverse image into a homogeneous layer on the stamp target. In a preceding step, the target surface has to be coated with an appropriated material, e.g. a liquid, UV-hardened, polymer. Therefore, this configuration of µ-CP3.0 substitutes expensive image projection steps and etching processes for the production of small devices for MEMS research. E.g., manifold structures can be shaped directly onto Bio-MEMS.

Resist Spinning

   

Curing

   

Stamping

   
3D-Patterns   
Hardening

3 - Particle Deposition with Flow-Through Stamps

Solid beads, grains and particles are hard to print due to their 3-dimensional structure. Homogeneous inking of the stamp is impeded. With the Flow-Through Stamp the substrate is exposed to a particle suspension during the stamping process. With the touch down on the substrate, the stamp patterns become closed microfluidic channels, completed by in/outlets in the stamp bulk. When applying a slow liquid flow, the particles adhere to the substrate surface.

Start   
Stamping   
Sample Flow
   
Sedimentation   
Drying

 

Semiautomatic Micro-Contact-Printing System µ-CP 3.0

Click here for a video demonstration.

µ-CP3.0 with four PDMS stamps

The semiautomatic benchtop station enables both µ-CP and NIL without any tedious re-configuration. NIL just requires additional UV sources on the print head for post-stamping hardening of the resist. A combined Z-displacement/pneumatic actuation ensures reproducible and homogeneous prints, even in the submicrometer range. [Instrument Details and Accessories]

(A fully automated micro-contact-printer, based on the Nano-Plotter, is still in development.)

Manual Micro-Contact-Printing System µ-CP - PVM-A

For real-time observation of the print process GeSiM adapted the print head of µ-CP3.0 to the tray of a microscope. The module PVM-A (Process-Validation-Module-Alignment) comes without XY-drive but features the same stamping technique as µ-CP3.0. The slide holder plate allows X, Y, φ- alignment of stamp/ target.

Customers of µ-CP3.0 get PVM-A at reduced rate.

PVM-A on a microscope stage

 

 

Flyer on Micro-Contact-Printing Flyer on Micro-Contact-Printing

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