FluidFM® Nanoprinting | Print any pattern at sub-micrometer resolution

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FluidFM ® Nanoprinting for researchers who need precise tools to manipulate, create and prototype on the nano- and microscale

FluidFM technology with its microfluidic probes offers unprecedented versatility and control to print patterns and explore nanostructure creation. Whether you are working with protein arrays for sensing applications, chemical gradients for cell migration studies, want to understand chemical processes in femtoliter droplets, or are interested to develop the next generation of nano-fabrication processes – FluidFM will open new doors for your research.

From femtoliter to nanoliter

Print femtoliter droplets or deposit up to nanoliter volumes.

From nm to cm

Print features as small as 300 nm and create patterns up to cm in scale.

1 to 10’000 cP viscosity

Customers have printed with inks from 1 to 10’000 cP. From water to honey.

In air and in liquid

FluidFM technology works both immersed and in ambient conditions.

Wide range of inks

Water. Buffers. Oils. Acids. Solvents. Nanoparticles. And more.

FluidFM systems for patterning and nanoprinting

Discover the systems

How the FluidFM technology can boost your nanoprinting experiments

Any pattern from µm to cm at sub-micrometer resolution

Our long-range XY-stage enables precise printing of 2.5D patterns at any size from µm to cm at sub-micrometer resolution. Spots can be printed from micro- to nanoscale with the appropriate FluidFM Probe type.

FluidFM Nanoprinting | FluidFM probe consumable integrating reservoir and micro- or nano- meter sized FluidFM nozzle/printing tip

A close view of the FluidFM Probe consumable, integrating reservoir and micro- or nano- meter sized FluidFM nozzle/printing tip.

With any ink

Any liquid with viscosities ranging from 1 cP to 10'000 cP (water to honey) can be pipetted into the 1 µl reservoir and dispensed through our FluidFM Probes made of silicon nitride. If needed, probes can be coated before use, eg with anti-fouling surface chemistry. Use virtually any soluble substance: DNA, RNA, proteins, nanoparticle solutions and many other.

From nl to fl. Highly reproducible.

FluidFM can deposit volumes anywhere from sub fl to nl, depending on probe type and printing parameters. Thanks to the highly reproducible FluidFM Probe geometry and the precise, pressure-controlled flow, you can expect reproducible results over many experiments. The video shows an example of ~1 nL and ~50 fL droplet printing of protein solution on a functionalized surface in air.

Print in liquid and in air.

Material can be deposited both in liquid and air environment. When printing in air, the material transfer to a surface is mainly governed by pressure and capillary forces, while in liquid pressure and diffusion are key factors.

Print next to living cells

FluidFM can operate immersed - on live cell cultures. Guide cell migration through chemical or protein printed patterns. Shower selected single cells with chemicals. Observe the effects real-time within the cell culture context, as FluidFM is fully compatible with inverted microscopes and transparent samples.

FluidFM Nanoprinting - Preview & printed pattern

Top: Preview of the pattern. Bottom: Fluorescence image of "FluidFM" printed with a nanopipette containing a solution of glycerol and propidium iodide.

Fast preparation & intuitive software

With the FluidFM OMNIUM, the experiment preparation just takes 5 minutes, and the user-friendly software makes the process extremely easy:

Fill the reservoir of the chosen FluidFM Probe
Place probe & sample into the system
Load your printing file containing the pattern
Follow the software instructions & recommended procedures
Preview your pattern and start the printing
The system autonomously prints according to the loaded file
Instruct the system to take the required images

Choose the most adequate nozzle geometry and size

Distinct patterns in various sizes can be easily printed due to the variety of available FluidFM Probe tips and aperture sizes ranging from 300 nm to 8 µm).

FluidFM Micropipette

Higher deposition rate
2, 4 and 8 µm diameter choice
Ideal for spotting
For high material deposition rate
In liquid & air

FluidFM Nanosyringe

Controlled tip-substrate contact
Sub-micrometer lines
For high-resolution patterns
In air

FluidFM Nanopipette

Direct ink-substrate contact
Sub-micrometer lines
For high-resolution patterns
In liquid & air

Discuss your experiments with FluidFM experts

Contact our experts

Learn how researchers have benefited from using FluidFM in nanoprinting and patterning experiments

Selected Publications
Use Cases

Controlled molecular assembly using a nonspherical biomolecule

The present work demonstrates the concept of controlled molecular assembly using a nonspherical biomolecule, heparosan tetrasaccharide (MW = 1.099 kD). Using an independently controlled microfluidic probe in an atomic force microscope, sub-femtoliter aqueous droplets containing designed molecules produce well-defined features with dimensions as small as tens of nanometers.

J. Zhang, H. Yu, B. Harris, et al. New Means to Control Molecular Assembly. ACS Publications, 2020.

Micropatterning of living mammalian cells

This paper shows the micropatterning of living mammalian cells on carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) hydrogel layers using the FluidFM BOT technology.

A. Saftics et al. Biomimetic dextran-based hydrogel layers for cell micropatterning over large areas using the FluidFM BOT technology. Langmuir, 2019

Molecular monitoring with AFM

This paper describes a quantification method for the detection of BCR-ABL targets at very low concentrations (<10 copies/sample) in the presence of a million copies of normal BCR and ABL genes. In this method, a fully modified locked nucleic acid (LNA) and a LNA/DNA chimera were used as capture probes, and the quantitative imaging mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed.

S. Mishra, Y. Lee & J. W. Park. Direct quantification of trace amounts of a chronic myeloid leukemia biomarker using locked nucleic acid capture probes. Analytical Chemistry, 2018.

Local chemical stimulation of neurons with FluidFM

Publication presents a local chemical stimulation platform that resembles in vivo physiological conditions and can be used to target specific receptors of synapses. Neurotransmitters were dispensed using the force-controlled fluidic force microscope (FluidFM) nanopipette, which provides exact positioning and precise liquid delivery.

M. J. Aebersold et al. Local Chemical Stimulation of Neurons with the Fluidic Force Microscope. (FluidFM). ChemPhysChem, 1439-7641, 2017.

Check all FluidFM publications

Creating droplet arrays from fL to nL

In this video the letters JPK are spotted onto a glass dish in air. These femtoliter sized water droplets quickly evaporate under ambient conditions. For longer lasting droplets a bit of glycerol can be added to the ink. However, often it is desired that only the proteins or nanoparticle payload stays on the sample, while the carrier solution evaporates.

Video courtesy of Bruker.

Explore more use cases

Webinar with a live demo: FluidFM nanoprinting

Get to know FluidFM as a tool for nanoprinting.

Understand how FluidFM nanoprinting works and how it empowers your experiments.

Learn which applications can benefit from FluidFM nanoprinting.

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Find the ideal FluidFM system for your nanoprinting experiments

	FluidFM ADD-ON	FluidFM OMNIUM
Pre-existing requirements	Needs a compatible AFM from third party supplier	No requirements
Hardware	FluidFM module as add-on to existing AFM systems	Standalone FluidFM system with integrated microscope and force-control unit
Software	Extension to software of AFM supplier	Standalone software with dedicated workflows and automation
Automation	Limited and depending on AFM system	Automated workflows available as well as full manual control if needed
Compatible probes	Full range of FluidFM Nanosyringes, Nanopipettes, and Micropipettes More on FluidFM probes & technology
Probe replacement	Easy click-fix mount of probe pre-assembled on adaptor, no tools needed	Automated probe exchange process
Incubator for CO₂ and temperature control	Available (from AFM supplier)	Available, specially tailored to the FluidFM OMNIUM
Compatibility	Nanosurf (CoreAFM, FlexAFM and DriveAFM), Bruker (Bioscope Resolve), JPK (Nanowizard, CellHesion and ForceRobot families)	n.a. (standalone system)

	FluidFM ADD-ON	FluidFM OMNIUM
Workflow automation	Workflows are generally not automated.	Workflows are automated and cover various printing modalities. Custom print patterns can be loaded as csv. controlling all parameters simultaneously.
Print pattern alignment	Manual	Print pattern overlay on screen. Easy to print on absolute coordinates or relative to position of interest.
Printing size	Limited, typically 100 µm x 100 µm (depending on AFM system)	240 mm x 74 mm, access two well plates for printing
XY resolution	<0.1 nm, depending on AFM system	<25 nm
Printing speed	From <1 µm/s up to >1 mm/s	From <1 µm/s up to >1 cm/s
Culture plate/ slide compatibility	Depending on AFM model, typically low-profile dishes (50mm or 35 mm), not compatible with standard well plates.	Compatible with standard plates (6, 12, 24-well), petri-dishes, glass slides and more.
Force sensitivity and resolution	< 100 pN	< 1 nN
Force range	100 pN to 1 µN	1 nN to 1 µN
Z-movement resolution	< 0.1 nm	< 5 nm
Z- measurement range	10 µm to 200 µm (depending on AFM system)	5 cm
AFM imaging	Yes	No
Light microscopy imaging	Can be combined	Integrated
Minimum amount of ink needed	1 to 10 µl (depending on AFM system)	1 µl
Dead volume	Zero	Zero

	FluidFM ADD-ON	FluidFM OMNIUM
Printing of nanostructures	+++	++
AFM imaging of nanostructure	+++	-
Printing / spotting of arrays	+++	+++
Printing in situ	++	+++
Printing / spotting large patterns	+	+++
Printing / spotting precious samples	+++	+++

- Not recommended; + Works but with drawbacks; ++ Works but not optimal in every situation; +++ Method of choice

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