Abstract: The method provides for attaching nucleic acids to a surface at a controlled grafting density in a controlled conformation by contacting an immobilization solution of nucleic acids containing at least one block of adenine nucleotides to a surface for a sufficient period of time to allow attachment to the surface. Another aspect of the methods described provides for controlling the grafting density of immobilized oligonucleotides by coadsorption/displacement by oligo(dA). Another aspect provides for a method of immobilizing oligonucleotides in complex conformations by varying the number and position of the block(s) of adenine nucleotides in the sequence of said oligonucleotides. Another aspect provides for controlled immobilization of a functional unit, such as a ligand, a molecule, a macromolecule, an aptamer, a lectin, an immunoglobulin, an antibody, a biomolecule, a solid state particle, a vesicle, or a label to a surface via attachment to at least one block of adenine nucleotides.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controllably activating a surface for stable amine-reactive chemistries. A surface containing nitride is exposed to a plasma having a reactive species containing hydrogen for a period of time sufficient to activate the substrate for amine-reactive chemistries. Amine-reactive chemical processes can then be applied to the activated surface to reliably and controllably bond molecules directly to said surface. The method is designed to create stable primary amines on the nitride substrate, so that any subsequent amine-reactive chemistry may proceed in a controlled manner that is directly proportional to the density of surface amines so created.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus for nanolithography and a process for thermally controlling the deposition of a solid organic “ink” from the tip of an atomic force microscope to a substrate. The invention may be used to turn deposition of the ink to the substrate on or off by either raising its temperature above or lowing its temperature below the ink's melting temperature. This process may be useful as it allows ink deposition to be turned on and off and the deposition rate to change without the tip breaking contact with the substrate. The same tip can then be used for imaging purposes without fear of contamination. This invention can allow ink to be deposited in a vacuum enclosure, and can also allow for greater spatial resolution as the inks used have lower surface mobilities once cooled than those used in other nanolithography methods.