Thermal Inkjet Technology for the Microdeposition of Biological Molecules as a Viable Route for the Realization of Biosensors

Abstract

Recent progress in inkjet printing of parts of biosensors are highlighted, with particular reference to the printing of biologically active molecules. We describe a system constituted by a thermal inkjet printer, adapted to layering a bidimensional array of dots [701 × 701 dots per inch] on solid supports. The printer was used to depose a β‐galactosidase (GAL)‐containing ink on a polyester sheet, with dots obtained from 10 pL drops, each drop containing in turn 6 pg of enzyme. The activity of GAL after the preparation was determined using a colorimetric probe (Brilliant Blue FCF). The activity loss of the microdeposed enzymes was found to be around 15%, showing that the 2 µsec‐lasting thermal shock experienced by the biomolecule into the printhead nozzle affects to a lesser extent the activity of the thermal inkjet deposited enzyme. In conclusion, the most recent findings of our group in this line are depicted, and a view of possible future developments of the “biopolytronics” field is outlined.

Keywords:

• Thermal inkjet printing
• Biological ink
• β‐Galactosidase
• Brilliant Blue FCF
• Biopolytronics
• Biosensor