Isolation of microniches from solid-phase and solid suspension in liquid phase microbiomes using laser induced forward transfer

A method for printing materials comprising the steps of:

• providing a receiving substrate;
• providing a target substrate comprising a photon-transparent support, a photon absorbent interlayer coated on the support, and a transfer material comprising a solid-phase environmental sample coated on top of the interlayer opposite to the support;
• wherein the environmental sample comprises living microorganisms;
• wherein the transfer layer is formed by a method selected from:
• mixing the solid-phase environmental sample with a liquid to form a suspension and forming a layer of the transfer material by applying the suspension to the target substrate and optionally drying the suspension;
• and
• forming a layer of the transfer material by applying a slice or portion of the environmental sample to the target substrate and optionally adding a fluid between the environmental sample and the target substrate;
• providing a source of photon energy;
• and
• directing the photon energy through the transparent support so that the photon energy strikes the interlayer;
• wherein a portion of the interlayer is energized by absorption of the photon energy;
• and
• wherein the energized interlayer causes a transfer of a portion of the environmental sample including the microorganisms across a gap between the target substrate and the receiving substrate and onto the receiving substrate.