Sample deposition for imaging
AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
InventorsDorothy Erie, Emily Lentz
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Abstract
A stamp-transfer method for deposition of DNA, protein-DNA complexes, other polymers, and other biomolecules for scanning probe microscopy, including atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as other imaging techniques. The method is suitable for adaptation to high-throughput depositions and can improve image resolution of the conformational states of protein-DNA complexes.
Claims21
A stamp-transfer deposition method to immobilize a biomolecule and/or polymer on a surface of a substrate, the method comprising:
- dispensing a liquid sample comprising one or more biomolecule and/or polymer into at least one microwell present on a wafer to form a thin liquid layer;
- contacting the liquid layer in the at least one microwell with the surface of the substrate for a time sufficient to transfer a portion of the sample to the surface such that the biomolecule and/or polymer adheres to the surface of the substrate;
- and
- removing the surface from contact with the liquid layer with the biomolecule and/or polymer being immobilized on the surface of the substrate;
- and
- optionally, drying, or rinsing and drying, the substrate in preparation for scanning probe microscopy (SPM).
A high-throughput method for depositing biomolecules and/or polymers on a surface of a single substrate for imaging, the method comprising:
- robotically dispensing a liquid sample comprising biomolecules and/or polymers into a plurality of microwells on a wafer to form a thin liquid layer in each microwell;
- simultaneously contacting each liquid layer in the plurality of microwells with the surface of the single substrate for a time sufficient to transfer a portion of each sample to the surface of the substrate such that the biomolecules and/or polymers adhere to the surface;
- removing the surface from contact with the liquid layers with the biomolecules and/or polymers being immobilized on the surface of the substrate;
- and
- optionally, drying, or rinsing and drying, the substrate in preparation for imaging.
A stamp transfer apparatus comprising;
- a base to support a wafer comprising one or more microwells;
- an upper piston that can be moved vertically relative to the base and which comprises a headpiece positioned above the base and capable of being lowered to the base to contact a wafer on the base;
- a headpiece for releasably holding an imaging substrate, and its optional backing, on the underside of the headpiece;
- and
- a control to move the piston and bring the imaging substrate into and out of contact with the wafer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.