Effect of the electrostatic interaction on the redox reaction of positively charged cytochrome C adsorbed on the negatively charged surfaces of acid-terminated alkanethiol monolayers on a Au(111) electrode

The electrochemical properties of cytochrome c (cyt c) adsorbed on mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MES)/2-mercaptoethanol (MEL) are compared with those on single-component SAMs of MES, MEL, and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), using cyclic voltammetry and potential-modulated UV-vis reflectance spectroscopy. The rate constant of electron transfer (ET), k(et), of cyt c adsorbed on the SAM of MPA decreases from 1450 +/- 210 s(-1) at pH 7 to 890 +/- 100 s(-1) at pH 9. In contrast, the value of k(et) of cyt c on the SAM of MES is pH-independent at 100 +/- 15 s(-1). Those facts suggest that a large negative charge density on the SAM surface slows down the ET between cyt c and the electrode. The surface charge density of the SAM affects also the amount of electroactive cyt c, Gamma(e), which decreases from 10.0 +/- 1.0 to 5.3 +/- 1.1 pmol cm(-2) with increasing pH from 7 to 9 on the SAM of MPA. Similarly, the k(et) of cyt c adsorbed on the mixed SAMs of MES/MEL sharply decreases from 900 +/- 300 s(-1) to 110 s(-1) as the surface mole fraction of MES increases beyond 0.5, suggesting the presence of a negative surface charge threshold beyond which the rate of ET of cyt c is dramatically lowered. The decrease in the k(et) on the SAMs at high negative charge densities probably results from the confinement of adsorbed cyt c by the strong electrostatic force to an orientation that is not optimal for the ET reaction.     

Immobilization and electrochemical redox behavior of cytochrome c on fullerene film-modified electrodes

Two different fullerene film-modified electrodes were prepared and used for surface immobilization and electrochemical property investigation of horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c). Both a pristine fullerene film and fullerene-palladium (C(60)-Pd) polymer film-modified platinum, glassy carbon and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes were used. The immobilized cyt c was characterized by piezoelectric microgravimetry at a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), UV-visible absorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. The UV-visible spectral studies revealed a small blue shift of both the Soret and Q band of the heme moiety of cyt c, immobilized on the C(60)-Pd polymer film-modified ITO electrode, as compared to the bands of cyt c in solution suggesting that molecules of cyt c are densely packed onto the surface of the modified electrode. The CV studies revealed a quasi-reversible electrode behavior of the heme moiety indicating the occurrence of kinetically hindered electron transfer. A good agreement was found between the values of cyt c electrode surface coverage determined by piezoelectric microgravimetry and cyclic voltammetry. For piezoelectric microgravimetry, these values ranged from 0.5 x 10(-10) to 2.5 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2), depending upon the amount of cyt c present in solution and the time allowed for immobilization, which compared with a value of 3.6+/-0.4 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2) determined by CV. The possible mechanisms of cyt c immobilization on the C(60) film and C(60)-Pd film-modified electrodes are also discussed.     

Determination of anisotropic optical constants and surface coverage of molecular films using polarized visible ATR spectroscopy. Application to adsorbed cytochrome c films

This article describes a method to determine the anisotropic optical constants and surface coverage of molecular films using polarized attenuated total reflectance (ATR) absorbance measurements. We have extended the transfer-matrix formalism to describe birefringent and dichroic films in ATR geometries and have combined it with an iterative numerical procedure to determine the anisotropic values of both the real (n) and imaginary (k) parts of the complex refractive index of the film under investigation. Anisotropic values of the imaginary part of the refractive index (k) allow for the determination of the surface coverage and one order parameter of the film. To illustrate this approach, we have used cytochrome c (cyt c) protein films adsorbed to glass and indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. Experimental results show that cyt c films on these surfaces, which were formed under identical conditions, have significant differences in their surface coverages (11.2 +/- 0.4 pmol/cm(2) on glass and 21.7 +/- 0.9 pmol/cm(2) on ITO); however, their order parameters are similar (0.30 +/- 0.02 on glass and 0.36 +/- 0.04 on ITO).     

Impact of surface immobilization and solution ionic strength on the formal potential of immobilized cytochrome C

Four different self-assembled monolayer (SAM) electrode systems were examined electrochemically in order to better understand surface charge effects on the redox thermodynamics of immobilized horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c). Neutralization of protein surface charge upon adsorption on anionic COOH-terminated SAMs was found to cause substantial changes in the formal potential, as determined by cyclic voltammetry. For cyt c immobilized on negatively charged surfaces, the formal potential shifted to more negative values as the ionic strength was decreased, which is opposite to the trend displayed by solution cyt c. In contrast, immobilization to uncharged interfaces resulted in an ionic strength dependence for cyt c that is similar to its solution behavior. The results provide insight into the importance of surface charge on the formal potential of cyt c.     

Voltammetric and surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopic characterization of cytochrome C adsorbed on a 4-mercaptopyridine monolayer on silver electrodes

To combine voltammetric techniques with surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS), cytochrome c (cyt c) was immobilized on a roughened silver electrode chemically modified with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-mercaptopyridine (PySH). All measurements were performed on the same electrode in a homemade spectroelectrochemical cell suitable for such applications. Cyt c on a PySH-SAM shows a quasi-reversible, monoelectronic, adsorption-controlled CV response with a formal reduction potential of -0.061 V (vs SCE), which is comparable to the values found for native cyt c adsorbed on different SAMs. SERRS spectra proved that cyt c adsorbed on a PySH monolayer is present in the native conformer (the B1 state). Voltammetric and SERRS experiments at high ionic strength revealed that the interaction between the SAM and the protein is electrostatic in nature. In conclusion, PySH was found to be suitable for adsorption of cyt c at SERRS-active silver surfaces. In comparison with other SAMs, PySH requires less time (10 min vs 12-18 h) to form a long-time durable and reproducible coating on the roughened electrode surface.     

Mechanism underlying bioinertness of self-assembled monolayers of oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated alkanethiols on gold: protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and surface forces

The mechanism underlying the bioinertness of the self-assembled monolayers of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiol (OEG-SAM) was investigated with protein adsorption experiments, platelet adhesion tests, and surface force measurements with an atomic force microscope (AFM). In this work, we performed systematic analysis with SAMs having various terminal groups (-OEG, -OH, -COOH, -NH(2), and -CH(3)). The results of the protein adsorption experiment by the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method suggested that having one EG unit and the neutrality of total charges of the terminal groups are essential for protein-resistance. In particular, QCM with energy dissipation analyses indicated that proteins absorb onto the OEG-SAM via a very weak interaction compared with other SAMs. Contrary to the protein resistance, at least three EG units as well as the charge neutrality of the SAM are found to be required for anti-platelet adhesion. When the identical SAMs were formed on both AFM probe and substrate, our force measurements revealed that only the OEG-SAMs possessing more than two EG units showed strong repulsion in the range of 4 to 6 nm. In addition, we found that the SAMs with other terminal groups did not exhibit such repulsion. The repulsion between OEG-SAMs was always observed independent of solution conditions [NaCl concentration (between 0 and 1 M) and pH (between 3 and 11)] and was not observed in solution mixed with ethanol, which disrupts the three-dimensional network of the water molecules. We therefore concluded that the repulsion originated from structured interfacial water molecules. Considering the correlation between the above results, we propose that the layer of the structured interfacial water with a thickness of 2 to 3 nm (half of the range of the repulsion observed in the surface force measurements) plays an important role in deterring proteins and platelets from adsorption or adhesion.     

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of azurin adsorption onto an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer on gold

A quartz crystal microbalance coupled with electrochemistry was used to examine the adsorption of azurin on a gold electrode modified with a self-assembled monolayer of octanethiol. Azurin adsorbed irreversibly to form a densely packed monolayer. The rate of azurin adsorption was related to the bulk concentration of azurin in solution within the concentration range studied. At a high azurin concentration (2.75 muM), adsorption was rapid with a stable adsorption maximum attained in 2-3 min. At a lower azurin solution concentration (0.35 muM), the time to reach a stable adsorption maximum was approximately 30 min. Interestingly, the maximum surface concentration attained for all solution concentrations studied by the QCM method was 25 +/- 1 pmol cm-2, close to that predicted for monolayer coverage. The dissipation was monitored during adsorption, and only small changes were detected, implying a rigid adsorption model, as needed when using the Sauerbrey equation. Cyclic voltammetric data were consistent with a one-electron, surface-confined CuII/CuI azurin process with fast electron-transfer kinetics. The electroactive surface concentration calculated using voltammetry was 7 +/- 1 pmol cm-2. The differences between the QCM and voltammetrically determined surface coverage values reflect, predominantly, the different measurement methods but imply that all surface-confined azurin is not electrochemically active on the time scale of cyclic voltammetry.     

一种新的压电免疫传感器中生物分子固定化方法的研究

生物分子固定化或传感界面设计技术是研制压电免疫传感器的关键之一。本文 结合自组装单分子膜（SAMs）和聚电解质静电吸附组装技术，提出了一种新的压电 免疫传感器中生物分子固定化方法，研制成一种检测补体C_3的压电免疫传感器。 先在石英晶振的金电极表面组装一层胱胺SAMs，再在膜上组装带相反电荷的聚苯磺 酸钠（PSS）单层膜，通过静电吸附作用固定抗体（抗原），实现对相应抗原（抗 体）的检测。利用扫描电镜技术，从形态上考察了晶振组装胱氨SAMs与PSS及固定 补体C_3抗体后的表面形貌。研究了抗体的固定化条件，探讨了传感器采用这种固 定化方法的响应与再生性能，并与戊二醛键合固定法进行比较。结果表明，这种固 定化方法不仅对蛋白质类生物分子的固定化具有普适性，而且对所固定的生物分子 的活性影响小，传感器的响应的频移值大，灵敏度高，选择性和再生性能均较好。     

Role of surface heterogeneity and molecular interactions in the charge-transfer process through self-assembled thiolate monolayers on Au(111)

A comparative study of charge-transfer processes from/to methyl-terminated and carboxylate-terminated thiolate-covered Au(111) surfaces to/from immobilized methylene blue (MB) molecules is presented. Scanning tunneling microscopy images with molecular resolution reveal the presence of molecular-sized defects, missing rows, and crystalline domains with different tilts that turn the thickness of the alkanethiolate SAM (the spacer) uncertain. The degree of surface heterogeneity at the SAMs increases as the number of C units (n) in the hydrocarbon chain decreases from n = 6. Defective regions act as preferred paths for MB incorporation into the methyl-terminated SAMs, driven by hydrophobic forces. The presence of negative-charged terminal groups at the SAMs reduces the number of molecules that can be incorporated, immobilizing them at the outer plane of the monolayer. Only MB molecules incorporated into the SAMs close to the Au(111) surface (at a distance < 0.5 nm) are electrochemically active. MB molecules trapped in different defects explain the broad shape and humps observed in the voltammogram of the redox couple. The heterogeneous charge-transfer rate constants for MB immobilized into methyl-terminated thiolate SAMs are higher than those estimated for carboxylate- terminated SAMs, suggesting a different orientation of the immobilized molecule in the thiolate environment.     

Specific binding of large aggregates of amphiphilic molecules to the respective antibodies

The Binding of nonylphenol to respective antibodies immobilized on solid substrates was studied with the methods of total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) and QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) impedance spectroscopy. The binding reaction was proved to be highly specific having an association constant of KA=1.6x10(6) mol(-1) L and resulted in an increase in both the adsorbed layer thickness of 23 nm and the added mass of 18.3 microg/cm2 at saturation. The obtained responses of both TIRE and QCM methods are substantially higher than anticipated for the immune binding of single molecules of nonylphenol. The mechanism of binding of large aggregates of nonylphenol was suggested instead. Modeling of the micelle of amphiphilic nonylphenol molecules in aqueous solutions yielded a micelle size of about 38 nm. The mechanism of binding of large molecular aggregates to respective antibodies can be extended to other hydrophobic low-molecular-weight toxins such as T-2 mycotoxin. The formation of large molecular aggregates of nonylphenol and T-2 mycotoxin molecules on the surface was proved by the AFM study.     

Immobilization of liposomes onto quartz crystal microbalance to detect interaction between liposomes and proteins

To study the interaction between liposomes and proteins, intact liposomes were immobilized on a metal planar support by chemical binding and/or bioaffinity using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A large decrease in the resonance frequency of quartz crystal was observed when the QCM, modified by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of carboxythiol, was added to liposome solutions. The stable chemical immobilization of intact liposomes onto SAM was judged according to the degree with which adsorbed mass depended on the prepared size of liposomes, as well as on the activation time of SAMs when amino-coupling was introduced, where the liposome coverage of electrodes was 69+/-8% in optimal conditions. When avidin-biotin binding was used on amino-coupling liposome layers, liposome immobilization finally reached 168% coverage of the electrode surface. Denatured protein was also successfully detected according to the change in the frequency of the liposome-immobilized QCM. The adsorbed mass of denatured carbonic anhydrase from bovine onto immobilized liposomes showed a characteristic peak at a concentration of guanidine hydrochloride that corresponded to a molten globule-like state of the protein, although the mass adsorbed onto deactivated SAM increased monotonously.     

Multifunctional mixed SAMs that promote both cell adhesion and noncovalent DNA immobilization

The ability of DNA strands to influence cellular gene expression directly and to bind with high affinity and specificity to other biological molecules (e.g., proteins and target DNA strands) makes them a potentially attractive component of cell culture substrates. On the basis of the potential importance of immobilized DNA in cell culture and the well-defined characteristics of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), the current study was designed to create multifunctional SAMs upon which cell adhesion and DNA immobilization can be independently modulated. The approach immobilizes the fibronectin-derived cell adhesion ligand Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (RGDSP) using carbodiimide activation chemistry and immobilizes DNA strands on the same surface via cDNA-DNA interactions. The surface density of hexanethiol-terminated DNA strands on alkanethiol monolayers (30.2-69.2 pmol/cm2) was controlled using a backfill method, and specific target DNA binding on cDNA-containing SAMs was regulated by varying the soluble target DNA concentration and buffer characteristics. The fibronectin-derived cell adhesion ligand GGRGDSP was covalently linked to carboxylate groups on DNA-containing SAM substrates, and peptide density was proportional to the amount of carboxylate present during SAM preparation. C166-GFP endothelial cells attached and spread on mixed SAM substrates and cell adhesion and spreading were specifically mediated by the immobilized GGRGDSP peptide. The ability to control the characteristics of noncovalent DNA immobilization and cell adhesion on a cell culture substrate suggests that these mixed SAMs could be a useful platform for studying the interaction between cells and DNA.     

Direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c on a phosphonic acid terminated self-assembled monolayers

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c (cyt c) on a gold electrode modified with 3-mercaptopropylphosphonic acid [HS-(CH₂)₃-PO₃H₂, MPPA] self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was for the first time investigated. Electrochemical measurements and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopic reveal that the adsorption kinetics of cyt c on the MPPA-SAMs is very fast (saturation adsorption is completed within 5 s) and the immobilized cyt c molecules retain their native secondary protein structure. The nature of interaction between cyt c and -PO₃H₂ groups is mainly the electrostatic interaction. The direct electrochemistry of the immobilized cyt c on the -PO₃H₂ terminated SAMs with short chain is nearly reversible. Its formal potential (E⁰′ = 18 ± 3 mV vs. SCE) is very close to that of cyt c in an aqueous solution (E⁰′ = 18-22 mV vs. SCE). In addition, the electron transfer rate of cyt c immobilized on -PO₃H₂ terminated SAMs is relatively slow as compared to -SO₃H and -COOH terminated SAMs, indicating excess negative charge density on the SAMs surface will decrease the electron transfer rate of cyt c.     

Grafting of single, stimuli-responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane) polymer chains to gold surfaces

Redox-responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) polymer molecules were attached individually to gold surfaces for force spectroscopy experiments on the single molecule level. By grafting ethylenesulfide-functionalized PFS into the defects of preformed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of different omega-mercaptoalkanols on Au(111), the surface coverage of PFS macromolecules could be conveniently controlled. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle, as well as cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry measurements were carried out to characterize the morphology, wettability, and surface coverage of the grafted layers. The values of the PFS surface coverage were found to depend on the chain length of the omega-mercaptoalkanol molecules and on the concentration of the PFS solution but not on the insertion time or on the molar mass of PFS. The equilibrium surface coverages were successfully described by Langmuir adsorption isotherms. For low-surface coverage values (< 6.2 x 10(-4) chain/nm2), achieved by PFS insertion from very dilute solutions (8 x 10(-6) M) into long-chain SAMs, AFM and differential pulse voltammetry showed that surfaces exposing isolated individual polymer chains were obtained. The isolated PFS macromolecules were subjected to in situ AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) measurements. The single chain elasticity of PFS in isopropanol (and ethanol) was fitted with the modified freely jointed chain (m-FJC) model. This procedure yielded a Kuhn segment length of 0.33 +/- 0.05 nm and a segment elasticity of 32 +/- 5 nN/nm.     

Chemistry on surface-confined molecules: an approach to anchor isolated functional units to surfaces.

The synthesis of surface-confined, nanometer-sized dendrimers and Au nanoparticles was performed starting from single Pd(II) pincer adsorbate molecules (10) embedded as isolated species into 11-mercapto-1-undecanol and decanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. The coordination of monolayer-protected Au nanoclusters (MPCs) bearing phosphine moieties at the periphery (13), or dendritic wedges (8) having a phosphine group at the focal point, to SAMs containing individual Pd(II) pincer molecules was monitored by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM AFM). The individual Pd(II) pincer molecules embedded in the decanethiol SAM were visualized by their coordination to phosphine MPCs 13; isolated objects with a height of 3.5 +/- 0.7 nm were observed by TM AFM. Reaction of these embedded Pd(II) pincer molecules with the dendritic wedge 8 yielded individual molecules with a height of 4.3 +/- 0.2 nm.     

Effect of surface wettability on the adhesion of proteins

Besides significantly broadening the scope of available data on adhesion of proteins on solid substrates, we demonstrate for the first time that all seven proteins (tested here) behave similarly with respect to adhesion exhibiting a step increase in adhesion as wettability of the solid substrate decreases. Also, quantitative measures of like-protein-protein and like-self-assembled-monolayer (SAM)-SAM adhesive energies are provided. New correlations, not previously reported, suggest that the helix and random content (as measures of secondary structure) normalized by the molecular weight of a protein are significant for predicting protein adhesion and are likely related to protein stability at interfaces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to directly measure the normalized adhesion or pull-off forces between a set of seven globular proteins and a series of eight well-defined model surfaces (SAMs), between like-SAM-immobilized surfaces and between like-protein-immobilized surfaces in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4). Normalized force-distance curves between SAMs (alkanethiolates deposited on gold terminated with functional uncharged groups -CH3, -OPh, -CF3, -CN, -OCH3, -OH, -CONH2, and -EG3OH) covalently attached to an AFM cantilever tip modified with a sphere and covalently immobilized proteins (ribonuclease A, lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, immunoglobulin, gamma-globulins, pyruvate kinase, and fibrinogen) clearly illustrate the differences in adhesion between these surfaces and proteins. The adhesion of proteins with uncharged SAMs showed a general "step" dependence on the wettability of the surface as determined by the water contact angle under cyclooctane (thetaco). Thus, for SAMs with thetaco < approximately 66 degrees, (-OH, -CONH2, and -EG3OH), weak adhesion was observed (>-4 +/- 1 mN/m), while for approximately 66 < thetaco < approximately 104 degrees, (-CH3, -OPh, -CF3, -CN, -OCH3), strong adhesion was observed (< or =8 +/- 3 mN/m) that increases (more negative) with the molecular weight of the protein. Large proteins (170-340 kDa), in contrast to small proteins (14 kDa), exhibit characteristic stepwise decompression curves extending to large separation distances (hundreds of nanometers). With respect to like-SAM surfaces, there exists a very strong adhesive (attractive) interaction between the apolar SAM surfaces and weak interactive energy between the polar SAM surfaces. Because the polar surfaces can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and the apolar surfaces cannot, these measurements provide a quantitative measure of the so-called mean hydrophobic interaction (approximately -206 +/- 8 mN/m) in phosphate-buffered saline at 296 +/- 1 K. Regarding protein-protein interactions, small globular proteins (lysozyme and ribonuclease A) have the least self-adhesion force, indicating robust conformation of the proteins on the surface. Intermediate to large proteins (BSA and pyruvate kinase-tetramer) show measurable adhesion and suggest unfolding (mechanical denaturation) during retraction of the protein-covered substrate from the protein-covered AFM tip. Fibrinogen shows the greatest adhesion of 20.4 +/- 2 mN/m. Unexpectedly, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and gamma-globulins exhibited very little adhesion for intermediate size proteins. However, using a new composite index, n (the product of the percent helix plus random content times relative molecular weight as a fraction of the largest protein in the set, Fib), to correlate the normalized adhesion force, IgG and gamma-globulins do not behave abnormally as a result of their relatively low helix and random (or high sheet) content.     

Hemoglobin on phosphonic acid terminated self-assembled monolayers at a gold electrode: immobilization, direct electrochemistry, and electrocatalysis

Phosphonic acid (--PO(3)H(2)) terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface were used as a functional interface to immobilize hemoglobin (Hb). In situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) measurements show that Hb immobilization is a sluggish process due to formation of multilayer Hb structures on the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs, as revealed by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). In the multilayered Hb film, the innermost Hb molecules can directly exchange electrons with the electrode, whereas Hb beyond this layer communicates electronically with the electrode via protein-protein electron exchange. In addition, electrochemical measurements indicate that immobilization of Hb on the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs is not driven by the electrostatic interaction, but likely by hydrogen-bonding interaction. The immobilized Hb molecules show excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide, that is, the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs are promising for construction of third-generation biosensors.     

Adsorption of glucose oxidase onto plasma-polymerized film characterized by atomic force microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, and electrochemical measurement

Adsorption of glucose oxidase (GOD) onto plasma-polymerized thin films (PPF) with nanoscale thickness was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and electrochemical measurements. The PPF surface is very flat (less than 1-nm roughness), and its properties (charge and wettability) can be easily changed while retaining the backbone structure. We focused on three types of surfaces: (1) the pristine surface of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) PPF (hydrophobic and neutral surface), (2) an HMDS PPF surface with nitrogen-plasma treatment (hydrophilic and positive-charged surface), and (3) an HMDS PPF surface treated with oxygen plasma (hydrophilic and negative-charged surface). The AFM image showed that the GOD molecules were densely adsorbed onto surface 2 and that individual GOD molecules could be observed. The longer axis of GOD ellipsoid molecules were aligned parallel to the surface, called the "lying position", because of electrostatic association. On surface 1, clusters of GOD molecules did not completely cover the original PPF surface (surface coverage was ca. 60%). The 10-nm-size step height between the GOD clusters and the PPF surface suggests that the longer axes of individual GOD molecules were aligned perpendicular to the surface, called the "standing position". On surface 3, only a few of the GOD molecules were adsorbed because of electrostatic repulsion. These results indicate that the plasma polymerization process can facilitate enhancement or reduction of protein adsorption. The AFM images show a corresponding tendency with the QCM profiles. The QCM data indicate that the adsorption behavior obeys the Langmuir isotherm equation. The amperometric biosensor characteristics of the GOD-adsorbed PPF on a platinum electrode showed an increment in the current because of enzymatic reaction with glucose addition, indicating that enzyme activity was mostly retained in spite of irreversible adsorption.     

In situ growth of nanogold on quartz crystal microbalance and its application in the interaction between heparin and antithrombin III

A novel biosensor for detecting antithrombin III (AT III) was constructed based on in situ growth of nanogold on the gold electrode of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The growth process of nanogold was monitored by QCM in real time. Heparin was used as the affinity ligand and immobilized onto the nanogold modified gold electrode. A flow injection analysis-quartz crystal microbalance (FIA-QCM) system was used to investigate the relationship between nanogold growth and the AT III response. Along with the nanogold particle growth within initial 5 min, the amount of heparin immobilized onto the nanogold modified electrode increased quickly. Correspondingly, the frequency response to AT III binding increased rapidly at the same time. After that, both the immobilized amount of heparin and the sensor response to AT III decreased gradually. Compared with the directly immobilized large nanogold particles, the in situ grown particles with the same size occupy more sensor surface, resulting in higher frequency shifts to AT III in the interaction study between heparin and AT III. The obtained constants of AT III binding to immobilized heparin are k(ass)=(1.65+/-0.12)x10(3) L/mols, k diss=(2.63+/-0.18)x10(-2) 1/s and K(A)=(6.27+/-0.42)x10(4) L/mol.     

Nanografting versus solution self-assembly of alpha,omega-alkanedithiols on Au(111) investigated by AFM

The solution self-assembly of alpha,omega-alkanedithiols onto Au(111) was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A heterogeneous surface morphology is apparent for 1,8-octanedithiol and for 1,9-nonanedithiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared by solution immersion as compared to methyl-terminated n-alkanethiols. Local views from AFM images reveal a layer of mixed molecular orientations for alpha,omega-alkanedithiols, which evidence surface structures with heights corresponding to both lying-down and standing-up orientations. For dithiol SAMs prepared by solution self-assembly, the majority of alpha,omega-alkanedithiol molecules chemisorb with both thiol end groups bound to the Au(111) surface with the backbone of the alkane chain aligned parallel to the surface. However, AFM images disclose that there are also islands of standing molecules scattered throughout the surface. To measure the thickness of alpha,omega-alkanedithiol SAMs with angstrom sensitivity, methyl-terminated n-alkanethiols with known dimensions were used as molecular rulers. Under conditions of spatially constrained self-assembly, nanopatterns of alpha,omega-alkanedithiols written by nanografting formed monolayers with heights corresponding to an upright configuration.