Modelling and hydrostatic analysis of contact printing microarrays by quill pins

Microarray technology has emerged as a major player in the parallel detection of biomolecules, but it still suffers from fundamental technical problems. Theoretical analysis of the printing process is crucial to achieve high quality microarrays. In this paper, modelling and hydrostatic analysis of contact printing microarrays by quill pins are presented. First, a complete contact printing process was modelled and divided into four stages: sample dipping, sample transferring, contact printing and spot spreading. Then, the hydrostatics mathematical model of each stage was developed. Based on the model analysis, the printing stability and continuity criteria and key parameters were described quantitatively. The results show that the slit width in the pin tip, the slit inclination and contact angle of quill pins have dominant effects on the stable and continual printing process. Finally, the quill pins were optimally designed and manufactured. A robotic microarray fabrication system using the quill pins was successfully developed and used to produce protein microarrays for biological applications.

► We model a complete microarray contact printing process by quill pins.
► We provide quill qins printing stability and continuity criteria.
► Pin tip slit width, slit inclination, contact angle are important parameters.
► We provide design and manufacturing method of quill pins.
► A robotic printing system was developed and found biological application.