Patterned self-assembly of magnetic biomolecules on semiconductor substrates

The paper reports on the methods of preparing and patterning magnetic metallothionein (Mn,Cd-MT-2) molecules on semiconductor surfaces. The molecules are placed into nanopores prepared on silicon (0 0 1) substrates. We observe the self-assembled growth of those MT molecules on the patterned Si surface. Dense arrays of molecular rods are demonstrated on templates with small pores and pitch sizes. Then the structures of the self-assembled protein are studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Our measurements indicate that molecular self-assembly has a magnetic dipole moment which interacts with the applied magnetic field. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.