Combined-dynamic mode “dip-pen” nanolithography and physically nanopatterning along single DNA molecules

Abstract

Atomic force micriscope (AFM)-based dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) is an emerging approach for constructing nanostructures on material surfaces such as gold, silicon and silicon oxide. Although DPN is a powerful technique, it has not shown its ability of direct-writing and patterning of nanostructures on surfaces of soft materials, for example biomacromolecules. Direct depositing on soft surfaces becomes possible with the introduction of a combined-dynamic mode DPN rather than mostly used contact mode DPN or tapping mode DPN. In this report, the combined dynamic mode DPN is used for direct depositing protein ink on DNA molecules at the nanometer scale.