Transferring complementary target DNA from aqueous solutions onto solid surfaces by using affinity microcontact printing.

In this paper, we report a method of transferring complementary target DNA from an aqueous solution onto a solid surface by using affinity microcontact printing. In this approach, the probe DNA is first immobilized on the surface of an aminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp. After a complementary target DNA hybridizes with the probe DNA on the stamp surface, the PDMS stamp is printed on an aminated glass slide. By using fluorescent microscopy, we show that only complementary target DNA, but not noncomplementary DNA, can be captured onto the surface of the stamp and then transferred to the aminated glass slide. The transfer of DNA can be attributed to the stronger electrostatic attraction between DNA and amine groups compared to the hydrogen bonds between the hybridized DNA molecules. We also investigate several factors that may influence the transfer of DNA, such as the surface density of amine groups, hybridization conditions, and contamination from unreacted PDMS monomers.