Polymeric Micro-Cantilevers for Ultra-Low Volume Fluid and Living Cell Deposition

Background:

Microcantilevers have been used for a variety of nano and microscale printing techniques including dip-pen nanolithography (DPN, a scanning probe lithography technique where an atomic force microscope tip is used to create patterns directly on a range of substances with a variety of inks) and grooved cantilever-based microprinting. Advanced, better-performing microcantilevers would therefore have a substantial impact on a wide range of nanoscale and microscale printing applications.

Technology Overview:

This technology improves upon existing grooved cantilever designs by creating cantilevers from polymeric materials, which are easier to fabricate than traditional silicon-based cantilevers. They also are cheaper to produce and have inherent surface properties that are more amenable to the printing/deposition process. The polymer-based cantilevers can be tuned for their chemical compatibility and surface interaction with the various fluids to be printed. Polymeric grooved cantilevers do not require surface pre-treatment prior to printing water-based fluid. In addition, these cantilevers have been used to print living cells onto surfaces, which is not possible with silicon-based cantilevers. Furthermore, polymeric grooved cantilevers also can be covered with a capping structure that creates an enclosed fluidic channel that can enhance fluid manipulation and deposition.

Advantages:

•    Easier to fabricate than traditional silicon-based cantilevers.
•    Cheaper to produce.
•    Inherent surface properties that are more amenable to the printing/deposition process.
•    Can be tuned for chemical compatibility and surface interaction with the fluids to be printed.

Applications:

The primary application for this technology is fabrication of microcantilevers for use in nano and microscale printing techniques such as dip-pen nanolithography and grooved cantilever-based microprinting.

Intellectual Property Summary:

Patent application filed: Non-provisional U.S. Patent Application, Published – #12/613,258

Stage of Development:

TRL 3 - Experimental proof of concept

Licensing Status:

This technology is available for licensing.

Licensing Potential:

This technology would be of interest to anyone involved in microprinting applications, including:
•    Manufacturers of additive manufacturing equipment.
•    Fabrication shops.
•    Medical research laboratories.