A method for depositing a transfer material onto a receiving substrate uses a
source
of laser energy, a receiving substrate, and a target substrate. The target substrate
comprises a laser-transparent support having a laser-facing surface and a support
surface. The target substrate also comprises a composite material having a back
surface in contact with the support surface and a front surface. The composite
material comprises a mixture of the transfer material to be deposited and a matrix
material. The matrix material is a material that has the property that, when it
is exposed to laser energy, it desorbs from the laser-transparent support. The
source of laser energy is positioned in relation to the target substrate so that
laser energy is directed through the laser-facing surface of the target substrate
and through the laser-transparent support to strike the composite material at a
defined target location. The receiving substrate is positioned in a spaced relation
to the target substrate. The source of laser energy has sufficient energy to desorb
the composite material at the defined target location, causing the composite material
to desorb from the defined target location and be lifted from the support surface
of the laser-transparent support. The composite material is deposited at a defined
receiving location on the receiving substrate. The method is useful for creating
a pattern of biomaterial on the receiving substrate.
