Precise positioning of individual DNA structures in electrode gaps by self-organization onto guiding microstructures

The ability to precisely position (bio)molecules onto microstructured substrates is a core technology critical to the long-term goal of molecular nanotechnology: the integration of molecular units in technical devices. Therefore, parallel processes have to be established to facilitate in a first step large-scale scientific investigations with statistically significant numbers, and later on technically relevant integration densities. DNA molecules were aligned by a receding meniscus generated by a drying droplet. Micromachined structures on the surface facilitated the alignment of DNA in the receding meniscus. The result was immobilized DNA following the electrode structures and spanning gaps. This self-assembly process presents a further step toward highly parallel processes for the precise positioning of molecular structures on chip surfaces.