Faradaic impedance titration of pure 3-mercaptopropionic acid and ethanethiol mixed monolayers on gold

pH-dependent fluorescence of thiol-coated CdSe/CdS quantum dots in an aqueous phase

The results presented in this paper show how the optical properties and colloidal stability of quantum dots (QDs) vary depending on pH conditions. For this investigation, as-synthesized hydrophobic CdSe/CdS QDs were transferred to an aqueous medium by surface modification with 3-mercaptopropionic acid. The ligand exchange procedure was applied under three different pH conditions: acidic, neutral and alkaline, to obtain three kinds of hydrophilic QDs dispersed in phosphate buffer. The efficiency of the functionalization of QDs was estimated based on the changes in ABS and the highest value was obtained under acidic conditions (45%). The efficiency of photoluminescence (PL) was also best preserved under these conditions, although it was 30 times less than the PL of hydrophobic QDs. Then, all three kinds of hydrophilic QDs were dispersed in solutions with a wide range of pH (2-12) and investigated by absorbance and PL measurements. The results show that QDs subjected to a ligand exchange procedure are characterized by intensive PL at the selected pH values, which correspond to pK_a of the ligand. This phenomenon is independent of the pH at which the ligand exchange procedure is conducted. Moreover, it was found that the PL intensity is preserved during the experiment for QDs functionalized under neutral conditions, whereas it decreases for acidic and increases for alkaline conditions.

Self-Assembled Fluid Phase Floating Membranes with Tunable Water Interlayers

We present a reliable method for the fabrication of fluid phase, unsaturated lipid bilayers by self-assembly onto charged Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) surfaces with tunable membrane to surface aqueous interlayers. Initially, the formation of water interlayers between membranes and charged surfaces was characterized using a comparative series of bilayers deposited onto charged, self-assembled monolayers by sequential layer deposition. Using neutron reflectometry, a bilayer to surface water interlayer of ∼8 Å was found between the zwitterionic phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) membrane and an anionic carboxyl terminated grafted SAM with the formation of this layer attributed to bilayer repulsion by hydration water on the SAM surface. Furthermore, we found we could significantly reduce the technical complexity of sample fabrication through self-assembly of planar membranes onto the SAM coated surfaces. Vesicle fusion onto carboxyl-terminated monolayers yielded high coverage (>95%) bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) which floated on a 7-11 Å solution interlayer between the membrane and the surface. The surface to membrane distance was then tuned via the addition of 200 mM NaCl to the bulk solution immersing a POPC floating membrane, which caused the water interlayer to swell reversibly to ∼33 Å. This study reveals that biomimetic membrane models can be readily self-assembled from solution onto functionalized surfaces without the use of polymer supports or tethers. Once assembled, surface to membrane distance can be tailored to the experimental requirements using physiological concentrations of electrolytes. These planar bilayers only very weakly interact with the substrate and are ideally suited for use as biomimetic models for accurate in vitro biochemical and biophysical studies, as well as for technological applications, such as biosensors.

Coupling Self-Assembly Mechanisms to Fabricate Molecularly and Electrically Responsive Films

Biomacromolecules often possess information to self-assemble through low energy competing interactions which can make self-assembly responsive to environmental cues and can also confer dynamic properties. Here, we coupled self-assembling systems to create biofunctional multilayer films that can be cued to disassemble through either molecular or electrical signals. To create functional multilayers, we: (i) electrodeposited the pH-responsive self-assembling aminopolysaccharide chitosan, (ii) allowed the lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) to bind to the chitosan-coated electrode (presumably through electrostatic interactions), (iii) performed layer-by-layer self-assembly by sequential contacting with glycogen and ConA, and (iv) conferred biological (i.e., enzymatic) function by assembling glycoprotein (i.e., enzymes) to the ConA-terminated multilayer. Because the ConA tetramer dissociates at low pH, this multilayer can be triggered to disassemble by acidification. We demonstrate two approaches to induce acidification: (i) glucose oxidase can induce multilayer disassembly in response to molecular cues, and (ii) anodic reactions can induce multilayer disassembly in response to electrical cues.

pH and Surface Charge Switchability on Bifunctional Charge Gradients

Multifunctionalized pH-sensitive silica gradients containing acidic and basic functional groups have been prepared to evaluate how the spatial arrangement of active sites on a surface influences the surface charge and pH switchability. The gradient surfaces were prepared using controlled rate infusion in such a manner that the individual gradients in the strong acid (sulfonic acid) and in the weak base (propylamine) align, whereas a gradient in the weakly acidic silanol groups opposes them. The relative amounts of the three species were varied by controlling the composition of the deposition solution, whereas the hydrophobicity of the underlying surface was set by using base layer-coated substrates prepared from either tetramethoxysilane or tetramethoxysilane/octyltrimethoxysilane mixtures. Results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm that aligned gradients are formed in both amine and sulfonic acid groups, and the relative amounts bound to the surface follow that expected from the solution composition. Water contact angle measurements show a 40°-50° change across the length of the gradient, the exact values being dependent on the hydrophobicity of the base layer. Zeta potential measurements on gradient mimics reveal that there is a pH where the net charge on the gradient surface is predicted to have a constant but nonzero value. Static contact angle measurements and modeling confirm this prediction. At a pH acidic of this value, the gradient in charge runs in one direction, whereas at a pH basic of this value, the gradient in charge runs in the other direction. This point can be strategically moved from acidic values to basic values by changing the relative amounts of acidic and basic functionalities on the surface. The origin of this unique pH switchability can be found in acid-base chemistry. By modeling the charge along the gradient surface using a simple equilibrium model, a distribution of pK_a values were noted in these materials.

Cooperative Effects in Aligned and Opposed Multicomponent Charge Gradients Containing Strongly Acidic, Weakly Acidic, and Basic Functional Groups

Bifunctionalized surface charge gradients in which the individual component gradients either align with or oppose each other have been prepared. The multicomponent gradients contain strongly acidic, weakly acidic, and basic functionalities that cooperatively interact to define surface wettability, nanoparticle binding, and surface charge. The two-step process for gradient formation begins by modifying a siloxane coated silicon wafer in a spatially dependent fashion first with an aminoalkoxysilane and then with a mercapto-functionalized alkoxysilane. Immersion in hydrogen peroxide leads to oxidation of the surface immobilized sulfhydryl groups and subsequent protonation of the surface immobilized amines. Very different surface chemistries were obtained from gradients that either align with or oppose each other. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data show that the degree of amine group protonation depends on the local concentration of sulfonate groups, which form ion pairs with the resulting ammonium ions. Contact angle measurements show that these ion pairs greatly enhance the wettability of the gradient surface. Finally, studies of colloidal gold binding show that the presence of both amine and thiol moieties enhance colloid binding, which is also influenced by surface charge. Cooperativity is also revealed in the distribution of charges on uniform samples used as models of the gradient surfaces, as evaluated via zeta potential measurements. Most significantly, the net surface charge and how it changes with distance and solution pH strongly depend on whether the gradients in amine and thiol align or oppose each other. The aligned multicomponent gradients show the most interesting behavior in that there appears to be a point at pH ∼ 6.5 where surface charge remains constant with distance. Setting the pH above or below this transition point leads to changes in the direction of charge variation along the length of the substrate.

Single-molecule DNA digestion in various alkanethiol-functionalized gold nanopores

This paper presents the alkanethiol-functionalized environmental effects of individual DNA molecules in nanopores on enzyme digestion at the single-molecule level. A template consisting of gold deposited within a solid-state nanoporous polycarbonate membrane was used to trap individual λ-DNA and enzyme molecules. The gold surfaces were modified with various functional groups (-OH, -COOH, -NH3). The enzyme digestion rates of single DNA molecules increased with decreasing nanopore diameters. Surprisingly, the digestion rates in the l-cysteine chemisorbed nanopores were 2.1-2.6 times faster than in the mercaptoethanol chemisorbed gold nanopores, even though these nanopores had equivalent interspacial areas. In addition, the membrane of chemisorbed cysteamine with ionized functional groups of H3N(+) at pH 8.2 had a greater positive influence on the enzyme digestion rate than the membrane of chemisorbed mercaptoproponic acid with ionized carboxyl groups (COO(-)). These results suggest that the three-dimensional environment effect is strongly correlated with the functional group in confined nanopores and can significantly change the enzyme digestion rates for nanopores with different internal areas.

Aminoalkoxysilane reactivity in surface amine gradients prepared by controlled-rate infusion

The reactivity of a series of substituted aminoalkoxysilanes for surface amine gradient formation has been studied using a newly developed time-based exposure method termed controlled-rate infusion (CRI). The aminoalkoxysilanes used include those that contain primary, secondary, and tertiary monoamines as well as more than one amine group (diamine and triamine). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to confirm the presence of a gradient in each case and to acquire detailed information on gradient composition from which kinetic data were obtained. The total area under the N 1s XPS spectra allows for the extent of amine modification to be quantitatively assessed along each gradient. The N 1s peaks actually appear as doublets, providing additional data on the level of protonation and, hence, amine basicity on the dry surface. The degree of protonation showed an interesting trend toward smaller values running from top to bottom along gradients incorporating the most basic amines. The gradient profiles, including initial steepness and extent of saturation, were shown to be highly dependent on the aminoalkoxysilane precursor employed. The highest levels of modification were achieved for the diamine and primary monoamine precursors while the more hindered amines produced lower levels of surface modification and took longer for saturation to be achieved. By fitting the gradient data to a simple first-order kinetic model, rate constants for the condensation reaction between each aminosilane and accessible surface silanol groups were obtained. The rate constants follow the trend: triamine ~ diamine > monoamine and primary > secondary > tertiary, indicating kinetic factors also play an important role in controlling surface modification. The presence of more than one amine group on the silane is concluded to enhance the rate of condensation to the surface silanol groups, while the more hindered secondary and tertiary amines slow condensation. Collectively, the results provide valuable new data on how the number of amine groups, degree of substitution, and steric hindrance influence silane reactivity with silica surfaces, amine surface coverage, and basicity along the gradient profile.

Synthesis and micropatterning of photocatalytically reactive self-assembled monolayers covalently linked to Si(100) surfaces via a Si-C bond

Selective generation of an amine-terminated self-assembled monolayer bound to silicon wafers via a silicon-carbon linkage was realized by photocatalytically reducing the corresponding azide-terminated, self-assembled monolayers (Az-SAMs). The Az-SAM was obtained by thermal deposition of 11-chloroundecene onto a hydrogen-terminated silicon wafer followed by nucleophilic substitution of the chloride with the azide ion in warm N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF). The presence of the terminal azide group on the SAM was confirmed by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and by detecting the formation of a triazole upon reaction of the azide with an activated alkyne. The desired terminal amine groups were generated by photocatalytic reduction of the Az-SAM with cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe Qdots) using λ > 400 nm. Analysis of the reduced SAM by XPS gave results that were consistent with those obtained with an amine-terminated surface obtained by reducing the Az-SAM with triphenylphosphine. To demonstrate the feasibility of using the Az-SAM for surface patterning, a sample was coated with adsorbed CdSe Qdots and exposed to the output of a diode laser at λ = 407 nm through a micropatterned mask. Using a SEM, the pattern formed in this manner was revealed after removing the CdSe Qdots and subsequently adsorbing 10 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to the positively charged terminal-amine groups. The formation of the pattern by CdSe-photocatalyzed reduction of the azide demonstrates a novel route to create features by selective modification of organic monolayers on silicon wafers.

Nanosieving of anions and cavity-size-dependent association of cyclodextrins on a 1-adamantanethiol self-assembled monolayer

In this paper, we studied charge transfer through a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 1-adamantanethiol on gold. Charge transfer through the 1-adamantanethiol SAM depended on the type of anion present when [Fe(CN)6]3- was used as a redox probe. The sluggish charge transfer process was monitored by cyclic voltammetry using the relatively large and hydrophobic perchlorate and hexafluorophosphate ions as the supporting electrolyte. In contrast, the charge transfer kinetics were nearly identical to those measured on bare gold with chloride, sulfate, and nitrate ions as the supporting electrolyte. We investigated the adsorption of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin on the 1-adamantanethiol SAM via a host-guest interaction. The 1-adamantanethiol SAM could not bind beta-cyclodextrin via a host-guest interaction, probably due to the proximity of neighboring adamantine molecules on the surface. Immobilization of alpha-cyclodextrin by formation of an exterior complex with the SAM suppressed charge transfer. The adsorbed alpha-cyclodextrin was quantified using faradaic impedance experiments. The obtained adsorption isotherm was in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm with a binding constant of 39.53 M(-1).

Potential driven deposition of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) onto the surface of 3-mercaptopropionic acid monolayers assembled on gold

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements are used to examine the ability of applied potential to drive the ionic self-assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) onto a substrate modified with a monolayer of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA). The potential of zero charge (PZC) of the gold electrode modified with a monolayer of 3-MPA was found by differential capacitance measurements to be -0.12 (+/-0.01) V versus Ag-AgCl. Changing the substrate potential to values positive (-0.01 V vs Ag-AgCl) of the PZC induces interfacial conditions that are favorable for the electrostatic deposition of cationic polymers onto the surface of 3-MPA monolayers. This result is also consistent with experimental observations obtained when the 3-MPA-modified substrate is exposed to 0.10 mol L (-1) NaOH solutions. When potentials equal or negative to the PZC are applied to the substrate, no significant accumulation of the PDDA is found by either QCM or EIS measurement. This result is consistent with results obtained when the 3-MPA modified substrate is exposed to 0.10 mol L (-1) HCl solutions where no PDDA adsorption is expected because the monolayer is neutral under these conditions. Changes in the impedance and quartz crystal frequency obtained after potential is applied to the substrate are interpreted in terms of the applied potential creating interfacial conditions that are favorable for the deprotonation of the terminal carboxylic acid groups and the subsequent electrostatic assembly of the polycation onto the negatively charged monolayer.

pH-Dependent rectification in self-assembled monolayers based on electrostatic interactions

Asymmetric electrostatic interactions dependent on pH between the redox molecules and the terminal group on the top of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) afford control of the electron transfer property of the SAM having the imidazole terminal group.

Effect of Intramonolayer Hydrogen Bonding of Carboxyl Groups in Self-assembled Monolayers on a Single Force with Phenylurea on an AFM Probe Tip

The molecular interaction force of the intermonolayer hydrogen bonding between phenylurea groups on a probe tip and carboxyl groups in self-assembled monolayers was measured directly by means of atomic force microscopy in ethanol. Gold-coated AFM probe tips were modified chemically with 2-(N'-phenylureido)ethanethiol possessing a terminal urea moiety, which is a well-known powerful functionality for forming stable hydrogen bondings with neutral and anionic species. Adhesion force measurements were carried out on gold substrates coated with a COOH-terminated SAM composed of 6-mercaptohexanoic acid in ethanol using the phenylurea-functionalized probe tip. The adhesion force observed was decreased in the presence of H2PO4(-) in the measurement bath, indicating that the intermonolayer hydrogen bonding between the phenylurea moieties and carboxyl groups attached covalently to the probe tip and substrate, respectively, is suppressed by the anion added to the measurement solution. The specific hydrogen-bonding force was measured on binary mixed SAMs prepared by mixing 6-mercaptohexanoic acid with 1-hexanethiol. The individual hydrogen-bonding force between the phenylurea-modified tip and the binary mixed SAMs with various fractions of MHA was evaluated by repetitive force measurements and their statistical analyses by an autocorrelation method. We discuss the effect of diluting the COOH-terminated component in the mixed SAM on the adhesion force and the single force between the phenylurea and carboxyl groups in terms of competition between intermonolayer and intramonolayer hydrogen bonding.

Charge propagation in "ion channel sensors" based on protein-modified electrodes and redox marker ions

The mechanism of charge propagation in "ion channel sensors" (ICSs) consisting of gold electrodes modified with a layer of charged proteins and highly charged redox-active marker ions in solution was investigated by electrochemical techniques, QCM and AFM. The study is based on seven proteins (concanavalin A, cytochrome c, glucose oxidase, lysozyme, thyroglobulin, catalase, aldolase, and EF1-ATPase) in combination with seven electroactive marker ions ([Fe(CN)6]3-, [Fe(CN)6]4-, [Ru(NH3)6]3+, mono-, di-, and trimeric viologens), as well as a series of suppressor and enhancer ions leading to the following general statements: (i) electrostatic binding of charged marker ions to the domains of the protein is a prerequisite for an electrochemical current and (ii) charge propagation through the layer consists of electron hopping along surface-confined marker ions into the pores between adsorbed proteins. It is further shown that (iii) marker ions and suppressor ions with identical charge compete for oppositely charged sites on the protein domain, (iv) electrostatically bound multilayers of marker or enhancer ions with alternating charge form on a charged protein domain, and (v) self-exchange and exergonic ET catalysis between adsorbed marker ions and marker ions in solution take place. In addition to fundamental insight into the mechanism of charge propagation, valuable information for the design, optimization, and tailoring of new biosensors based on the ICS concept is demonstrated by the current findings.

AC impedance spectroscopy of native DNA and M-DNA

Monolayers of thiol-labeled DNA duplexes of 15, 20, and 30 basepairs were assembled on gold electrodes. Electron transfer was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with Fe(CN)(6)(3-/4-) as a redox probe. The spectra, in the form of Nyquist plots, were analyzed with a modified Randles circuit which included an additional component in parallel, R(x), for the resistance through the DNA. For native B-DNA R(x) and R(ct), the charge transfer resistance, both increase with increasing length. M-DNA was formed by the addition of Zn(2+) at pH 8.6 and gave rise to characteristic changes in the Nyquist plots which were not observed upon addition of Mg(2+) or at pH 7.0. R(x) and R(ct) also increased with increasing duplex length for M-DNA but both were significantly lower compared to B-DNA. Therefore, electron transfer via the metal DNA film is faster than that of the native DNA film and certain metal ions can modulate the electrochemical properties of DNA monolayers. The results are consistent with an ion-assisted long-range polaron hopping mechanism for electron transfer.