Progress Highlight A novel generic platform for chemical patterning of surfaces

AbstractAdvancement in various fields ranging from biomaterials to cell biology is fostered by theevolution in patterning technology, that delivers smaller and smaller features exhibitingdistinct (bio)chemical contrast and addressability. We have recently introduced a simpleand versatile patterning technique based on selective adsorption from aqueous media of multi-functional organic molecules onto oxide substrates pre-patterned by lithographic methods.Here we demonstrate the use of this technique, termed selective molecular assemblypatterning, for the preparation of cell-adhesive patterns of arbitrary geometry, and their use 0079-6816/$ - see front matter 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.doi:10.1016/j.progsurf.2004.05.013 * Corresponding author. Fax: +41 1 633 10 27.E-mail address: marcus.textor@mat.ethz.ch (M. Textor). 1 Current address: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle,Washington, USA. 2 Current address: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas,USA.