Immunoassay arrays fabricated by dip-pen nanolithography with resonance Raman detection.

Here, we report the first use of resonance Raman scattering for the detection of miniaturized microscale arrays fabricated by dip-pen nanolithography. Antibody arrays for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were printed, and a sandwich immunoassay was carried out. An enzyme-linked detection antibody was used to provide an insoluble and stable colored microdot in the recommended size range for microarray readers, which could be read with resonance Raman scattering. This gives quantitative detection as well as an improved detection limit and a larger dynamic range than that previously achieved by direct fluorescent detection methods. By Raman mapping across the arrayed area, the microdots were easily detected with very little background signal from surrounding areas. Levels of PSA as low as 25 pg/mL were detected using this method, which could be extended to a large number of useful biomarkers.

Biogelx: Cell Culture on Self-Assembling Peptide Gels.

Aromatic peptide amphiphiles can form self-supporting nanostructured hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and chemical compositions. These hydrogels are increasingly applied in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, where there is a rapidly growing need to store, grow, proliferate, and manipulate naturally derived cells within a hydrated, 3D matrix. Biogelx Limited is a biomaterials company, created to commercialize these bio-inspired hydrogels to cell biologists for a range of cell culture applications. This chapter describes methods of various characterization and cell culture techniques specifically optimized for compatibility with Biogelx products.