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X-ray lithography and small-angle X-ray scattering: a combination of techniques merging biology and materials science

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Abstract

The advent of micro/nanotechnology has blurred the border between biology and materials science. Miniaturization of chemical and biological assays, performed by use of micro/nanofluidics, requires both careful selection of the methods of fabrication and the development of materials designed for specific applications. This, in turn, increases the need for interdisciplinary combination of suitable microfabrication and characterisation techniques. In this review, the advantages of combining X-ray lithography, as fabrication technique, with small-angle X-ray scattering measurements will be discussed. X-ray lithography enables the limitations of small-angle X-ray scattering, specifically time resolution and sample environment, to be overcome. Small-angle X-ray scattering, on the other hand, enables investigation and, consequently, adjustment of the nanostructural morphology of microstructures and materials fabricated by X-ray lithography. Moreover, the effect of X-ray irradiation on novel materials can be determined by use of small-angle X-ray scattering. The combination of top-down and bottom-up methods to develop new functional materials and structures with potential in biology will be reported.

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Acknowledgments

B. Sartori is acknowledged for the help with preparation of some of the figures. The authors particularly thank the small angle-scattering-group from the Austrian SAXS beamline, which contributed to parts of this work, namely: F. Cacho-Nerin, K. Jungnikl, I. Shyjumon, F. Schmid, D. Jozic, C. Morello, M. Rappolt, S. Bernstorff and, most notably, P. Laggner, who initiated and led the project of the Austrian SAXS beamline at the synchrotron ELETTRA, Trieste.

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  1. Institute of Biophysics and Nanosystems Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstr. 6, 8042, Graz, Austria

    B. Marmiroli & H. Amenitsch

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  1. B. Marmiroli
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  2. H. Amenitsch
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Correspondence to H. Amenitsch.

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Special Issue: Scattering techniques in biology—Marking the contributions to the field by Peter Laggner, on the occasion of his 68th birthday.

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Marmiroli, B., Amenitsch, H. X-ray lithography and small-angle X-ray scattering: a combination of techniques merging biology and materials science. Eur Biophys J 41, 851–861 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-012-0843-3

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