Patterning-mediated supramolecular assembly of lipids into nanostructures

A method of forming a supramolecular structure of lipids, said method comprising:

• providing an ink comprising an aqueous solution of lipids that form a primary structure, wherein the concentration of the lipid in the aqueous solution is above critical micelle concentration (CMC) in order to form a micellar ink of lipids in said aqueous solution;
• depositing the micellar ink of lipids in the aqueous solution onto one or more polymer pens;
• printing the micellar ink of lipids onto a substrate with the one or more polymer pens using polymer pen lithography (PPL), wherein the printed lipid micelles rearrange during printing on the substrate to form a secondary structure of patterned lipids;
• performing at least one post-printing treatment on the secondary structure of patterned lipids, wherein the at least one post-printing treatment step on the secondary structure of patterned lipids forms a tertiary structure of patterned lipids by self-assembly of said lipids, wherein the post-printing treatment comprises chemically treating the patterned lipids with a solvent and sonochemical treatment, mechanical agitation, or a combination thereof;
• and
• performing at least one treatment step on the tertiary structure of the self-assembled lipids to form a quaternary structure of patterned lipids by self-assembly of said lipids, wherein the at least one treatment step comprises solvent evaporation.