Writing patterns of molecules on molecular printboards

Self-assembled monolayers of cyclodextrin receptor molecules on gold or silicon oxide surfaces function as molecular printboards to which molecules with complementary recognition motifs can be transferred selectively by writing or printing. One example demonstrating the application of this methodology is the supramolecular microcontact printing of dendrimers loaded with fluorescent dyes (see confocal microscopy images after loading with rose bengal and fluorescein).