Providing
inert materials with a biochemical function, for example
using proteins, is a cornerstone technology underlying many applications.
However, the controlled construction of protein thin films remains
a major challenge. Here, an innovative solvent-free approach for protein
deposition is reported, using lysozyme as a model. By diverting a
time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (ToF-SIMS) from its
standard analytical function, large argon clusters were used to achieve
protein transfer. A target consisting of a pool of proteins was bombarded
with 10 keV Ar5000
+ ions, and the ejected proteins
were collected on a silicon wafer. The ellipsoidal deposition pattern
was evidenced by ToF-SIMS analysis, while SDS-PAGE electrophoresis
confirmed the presence of intact lysozyme on the collector. Finally,
enzymatic activity assays demonstrated the preservation of the three-dimensional
structure of the transferred proteins. These results pave the way
to well-controlled protein deposition using ion beams and to the investigation
of more complex multilayer architectures.
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