High density single molecule surface patterning with colloidal epitaxy

Simple and inexpensive methods for dense surface patterning of single molecules will help realize the massive potential throughput of molecular arrays in biology and nanoscience. To surpass the resolvable density limit imposed by random deposition, the authors have developed a method that uses colloids to pattern single molecules at a fixed length scale. They demonstrate the ability to pattern fluorescently labeled DNA such that ∼38% of the available diffraction-limited regions contain exactly one molecule. This density is slightly less than the theoretical limit suggested by Monte Carlo simulations but surpasses the random deposition limit by more than threefold.