University of Montreal researcher, Santiago Costantino and colleagues, demonstrated the flexibility and precision of their laser-assisted protein adsorption technique by patterning a fluorescent microscale version of the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' - the famous painting by the Dutchman, Johannes Vermeer.

Dr. Costantino used a laser to bind a fluorescent compound, biotin-4-fluorescein (B4F), to a protein-coated glass surface. By moving the laser around the surface, and varying the intensity of the beam, he created patterns of B4F with varying thickness. He then bound other proteins and antibodies to the surface to create fluorescent and biologically active active protein surfaces.

The technique demonstrated that protein patterns could be used to guide the direction of nerve fiber growth - which they hope could lead to advances in immunology and neuroscience - perhaps one day assisting medical scientists in repairing nerve damage.

"What impresses me is the dynamic range of protein adsorption that they are able to achieve, coupled to a versatile immobilisation scheme that allows for attaching just about anything to the surface,' says Albert Folch, an expert in bioengineering from University of Washington, Seattle, US. 'Something to be worked out is the long-term stability of the pattern, since cells produce enzymes which can break down proteins during growth and migration. It would be exciting to see if the technique allows patterns of competing signals to be shown to a nerve fibre in real time as the neuron's developmental clock is ticking.'

Read more from the recent article published in the 'Lab on a Chip' journal.