Selectivity improvement in protein nanopatterning with a hydroxy-terminated self-assembled monolayer template

Protein nanopatterning techniques to fulfil the requirement for reducing nonspecific adsorption are demonstrated. A target protein is selectively immobilized on a hydroxy-terminated self-assembled monolayer template, the pattern of which is modified with streptavidin used as the intermediating molecule. 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES) used as the intermediating molecule induces nonspecific adsorption of proteins due to nonspecific adsorption of APTES itself. The data indicate that reducing nonspecific adsorption of both the target protein and the intermediating molecule is important for selectivity improvement in protein patterning. As a result of the refinement, a protein nanopattern of 250 nm in diameter has been fabricated.