Immobilization of Fibronectin onto a Large Area Nanoimprinted Polystyrene Patterns

A well known fibrous protein, fibronectin was successfully immobilized onto well-fabricated nano-patterns of polystyrene (PS) substrates. The nano-patterns with finely-defined physical dimensions were obtained by nano-imprinting lithography (NIL) using anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) molds of which the pore sizes were controlled in nanometer scale; 45 nm, 250 nm and 410 nm for the widths and 110 nm and 500 nm for the pitches. Discrete changes of the surface images before and after the protein-adsorption on the patterns were demonstrated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the effect of the patterned features on the immobilization has been investigated and discussed.