Protein adsorption on oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers: The molecular basis for nonfouling behavior

A study of protein resistance of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG), HS(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOH (n = 2, 4, and 6), self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) surfaces is presented here. Hydroxyl-terminated OEG-SAMs are chosen to avoid the hydrophobic effect observed with methyl-terminated OEG-SAMs, particularly at high packing densities. The structure of the OEG-SAM surfaces is controlled by adjusting the assembly solvent. These SAMs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Protein adsorption on these surfaces was investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). OEG-SAMs assembled from mixed ethanol and water solutions show higher packing density on gold than those from pure ethanol solution. For EG2OH- and EG4OH-SAMs, proteins (i.e., fibrinogen and lysozyme) adsorb more on the densely packed SAMs prepared from mixed ethanol and water solutions, while EG6OH-SAMs generally resist protein adsorption regardless of the assembly solvent used.     

Functional monolayers for improved resistance to protein adsorption: oligo(ethylene glycol)-modified silicon and diamond surfaces

The interaction of proteins with semiconductors such as silicon and diamond is of great interest for applications such as electronic biosensing. We have investigated the use of covalently bound oligo(ethylene glycol), EG, monolayers on diamond and silicon to minimize nonspecific protein adsorption. Protein adsorption was monitored by fluorescence scanning as a function of the length of the ethylene glycol chain (EG3 through EG6) and the terminal functional group (methyl- versus hydroxyl-terminated EG3 monolayer). More quantitative measurements were made by eluting adsorbed avidin from the surface and measuring the intensity of fluorescence in the solution. The attachment chemistry of the tri(ethylene glycol) molecules and monolayer orientation was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Improvement in the selectivity of surfaces modified with EG functionality was demonstrated in two model biosensing assays. We find that high-quality EG monolayers are formed on silicon and diamond and that these EG3 monolayers are as effective as EG3 self-assembled monolayers on gold at resisting nonspecific avidin adsorption. These results show promise for use of silicon and diamond materials in many potential applications such as biosensing and medical implants.     

Reversible protein adsorption and bioadhesion on monolayers terminated with mixtures of oligo(ethylene glycol) and methyl groups

Surface-grafted, environmentally responsive polymers have shown great promise for controlling adsorption and desorption of macromolecules and cells on solid surfaces. In the paper, we demonstrate that certain mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) and methyl-terminated alkanethiolates on gold form surfaces with switchable hydrophobicity and tendency for protein adsorption and cellular attachment. At temperatures above 32 degrees C, SAMs with a surface density of approximately 50% OEG adsorbed significant amounts of pyruvate kinase and lysozyme, whereas below this temperature, these same SAMs were resistant to the adsorption of these proteins. Furthermore, protein layers adsorbed to these SAMs above 32 degrees C were removed upon rinsing with water below this temperature. Similar results were seen for attachment and release of the marine bacterium, Cobetia marina. The change from nonresistance to adsorptive state of the SAMs was concomitant with a change in advancing water contact angle. Vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy suggests that the temperature-induced changes coincide with a disorder-to-partial order transition of the hydrated methylene chains of the OEG moieties within the SAMs. Mixed OEG-methyl SAMs represent both a convenient means of controlling macromolecular and cellular adsorption within the laboratory and a useful tool for relating adsorption properties to molecular structures within the SAMs.     

Preparation, characterization, resistance to protein adsorption, and specific avidin-biotin binding of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers functionalized with oligo(ethylene glycol) on gold

Protein-resistant films derived from the fifth-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM G5) functionalized with oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) derivatives consisting of various ethylene glycol units (EG(n), n = 3, 4, and 6) were prepared on the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold substrates. The resulting films were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). About 35% of the peripheral amines of the dendrimers were reacted with N-hydroxysuccinimide-terminated EG(n) derivatives (NHS-EG(n)). The dendrimer films showed improved stability over octadecanethiolate SAMs on gold in hot solvents, attributed to the formation of multiple amide bonds per PAMAM unit with underlying NHS-activated MUA monolayer. The EG(n)-attached PAMAM surfaces with n = 3 reduced the adsorption of fibrinogen to approximately 20% monolayer, whereas 2-3% for n = 4 or 6. The dendrimer films with various densities of EG(n) molecules on PAMAM surfaces were prepared by immersion of the NHS-terminated MUA-functionalized gold substrates in ethanolic solutions containing PAMAM and NHS-EG(n) of various mole ratios. The density (r) of the EG(n) molecules on the PAMAM surfaces is consistent with the mole ratio (r') of NHS-EG(n)/free amine of PAMAM in solutions. The resistance to protein adsorption of the resulting surfaces is correlated with the surface density and the length of the EG chains. At their respective r, the EG(n)-modified dendrimer films resisted approximately 95% adsorption of fibrinogen on gold surfaces. Finally, the specific binding of avidin to the approximately 5% and approximately 40% biotinylated EG3 dendrimers (surface density of biotin with respect to the total number of terminal amino groups on PAMAM G5) gave rise to about 50% and 100% surface coverage by avidin, respectively.     

Covalently modified silicon and diamond surfaces: resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and optimization for biosensing

We report the direct covalent functionalization of silicon and diamond surfaces with short ethylene glycol (EG) oligomers via photochemical reaction of the hydrogen-terminated surfaces with terminal vinyl groups of the oligomers, and the use of these monolayers to control protein binding at surfaces. Photochemical modification of Si(111) and polycrystalline diamond surfaces produces EG monolayers linked via Si-C bond formation (silicon) or C-C bond formation (diamond). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize the monolayer composition. Measurements using fluorescently labeled proteins show that the EG-functionalized surfaces effectively resist nonspecific adsorption of proteins. Additionally, we demonstrate the use of mixed monolayers on silicon and diamond and apply these surfaces to control specific versus nonspecific binding to optimize a model protein sensing assay.     

Interaction of self-assembled monolayers of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols with water studied by vibrational sum-frequency generation

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) was used to investigate the conformational changes in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of (1-mercaptoundec-11-yl) hexa(ethylene glycol) monomethylether (EG6-OMe) on gold when exposed to liquid water. VSFG spectra of the EG6-OMe SAMs were recorded before, during, and after exposure of the films to water and after a subsequent evacuation step. While in contact with water the entire ethylene glycol chains are found in a random, solvated state, after removal from the fluid water molecules remain absorbed only at the terminal groups of the film giving rise to distinct conformational changes. After evacuation, the structure of the EG6-OMe SAM reverts to its original state, indicating that water has been removed from the monolayer. Our findings support recent ab initio calculations and Monte Carlo simulations on the interaction of ethylene glycol-terminated monolayers with water.     

In-situ characterization of self-assembled monolayers of water-soluble oligo(ethylene oxide) compounds

In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was utilized to examine the formation of the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the water-soluble oligo(ethylene oxide) [OEO] disulfide [S(CH(2)CH(2)O)(6)CH(3)](2) {[S(EO)(6)](2)} and two analogous thiols - HS(CH(2)CH(2)O)(6)CH(3) {(EO)(6)} and HS(CH(2))(3)O(CH(2)CH(2)O)(5)CH(3) {C(3)(EO)(5)} - on Au from aqueous solutions. Kinetic data for all compounds follow simple Langmuirian models with the disulfide reaching a self-limiting final state (d=1.2nm) more rapidly than the full coverage final states of the thiol analogs (d=2.0nm). The in-situ ellipsometric thicknesses of all compounds were found to be nearly identical to earlier ex-situ ellipsometric measurements suggesting similar surface coverages and structural models in air and under water. Exposure to bovine serum albumin (BSA) shows the self-limiting (d=1.2nm) [S(EO)(6)](2) SAMs to be the most highly protein resistant surfaces relative to bare Au and completely-formed SAMs of the two analogous thiols and octadecanethiol (ODT). When challenged with up to near physiological levels of BSA (2.5mg/mL), protein adsorption on the final state [S(EO)(6)](2) SAM was only 3% of that which adsorbed to the bare Au and ODT SAMs.     

Molecular simulation study of water interactions with oligo (ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers

Molecular simulations were performed to study a system consisting of protein (e.g., lysozyme) and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminating with different chemical groups in the presence of explicit water molecules and ions. Mixed SAMs of oligo (ethylene glycol) [S(CH2)4(OCH2CH2)4OH, (OEG)] and hydroxyl-terminated SAMs [S(CH2)4OH] with a mole fraction of OEG at chiOEG = 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0 were used in this study. In addition, methyl-terminated SAMs [S(CH2)11CH3] were also studied for comparison. The structural and dynamic behavior of hydration water, the flexibility and conformation state of SAMs, and the orientation and conformation of protein were examined. Simulation results were compared with those of experiments. It appears that there is a correlation between OEG surface resistance to protein adsorption and the surface density of OEG chains, which leads to a large number of tightly bound water molecules around OEG chains and the rapid mobility of hydrated SAM chains.     

Hydration of oligo(ethylene glycol) self-assembled monolayers studied using polarization modulation infrared spectroscopy

The interaction with water of protein-resistant monolayers (SAMs), self-assembled from (triethylene glycol) terminated thiol HS(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)3OMe solutions, was studied using in and ex situ polarization-modulated Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In particular, shifts in the position of the characteristic C-O-C stretching vibration were observed after the monolayers had been exposed to water. The shift in frequency increased when the SAM was observed in direct contact with a thin layer of water. It was found that the magnitude of the shift also depended on the surface coverage of the SAM. These findings suggest a rather strong interaction of oligo(ethylene glycol) SAMs with water and indicate the penetration of water into the upper region of the monolayer.     

One step growth of protein antifouling surfaces: monolayers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) derivatives on oxidized and hydrogen-passivated silicon surfaces

We compare two routes for creating protein adsorption-resistant self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) by chemical modification of silicon surfaces with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) oligomeric derivatives. The first route involves the assembly of 2-methyl[(polyethyleneoxy)propyl]trichlorosilane (Cl3SiMPEO) films onto oxidized silicon surfaces (OH-SiO(x)) either by a liquid-phase process at room temperature or by a gas-phase process at 423 K, producing Si-O-Si bonds between the substrate and the organic layer. The second pathway makes use of the assembly of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) (MPEG) films onto hydrogen-passivated silicon surfaces (H-Si) using a liquid-phase process at 353 or 423 K, leading to the formation of Si-O-C bonds between the substrate and the organic layer. Structural investigation by X-ray reflectometry (XRR) reveals that the thickness and surface densities of the grafted PEO monolayers strongly depend on experimental conditions such as temperature and grafting time. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows that very smooth and homogeneous monolayers can be obtained with average roughnesses close to those measured on the corresponding bare substrates. Finally, the antifouling properties of the modified silicon surfaces were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), using a membrane protein (P.69 antigen) as model protein. Both types of PEO monolayers exhibit excellent protein repellency, as soon as the grafting density is equal to or higher than 1.7 chains/nm2.     

Thermally Driven Structural Order of Oligo(Ethylene Glycol)-Terminated Alkanethiol Monolayers on Au(111) Prepared by Vapor Deposition

To probe the effects of deposition temperature on the formation and structural order of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) prepared by vapor deposition of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanethiol (CH₃O(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂SH, EG2) for 24 h, we examined the surface structure and electrochemical behavior of the resulting EG2 SAMs using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). STM observations clearly revealed that EG2 SAMs vapor-deposited on Au(111) at 298 K were composed of a disordered phase on the entire Au surface, whereas those formed at 323 K showed improved structural order, showing a mixed phase of ordered and disordered phases. Moreover, at 348 K, uniform and highly ordered EG2 SAMs on Au(111) were formed with a (2 × 3√3) packing structure. CV measurements showed sharp reductive desorption (RD) peaks at −0.818, −0.861, and −0.880 V for EG2 SAM-modified Au electrodes formed at 298, 323, and 348 K, respectively. More negative potential shifts of RD peaks with increasing deposition temperature are attributed to an increase in van der Waals interactions between EG2 molecular backbones resulting from the improved structural quality of EG2 SAMs. Our results obtained herein provide new insights into the formation and thermally driven structural order of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated SAMs vapor-deposited on Au(111).     

Measurement of the azimuthal anchoring energy of liquid crystals in contact with oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated self-assembled monolayers supported on obliquely deposited gold films

We report measurements of the orientations and azimuthal anchoring energies of the nematic liquid crystal 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) on polycrystalline gold films that are deposited from a vapor at an oblique angle of incidence and subsequently decorated with organized monolayers of oligomers of ethylene glycol. Whereas the gold films covered with monolayers presenting tetra(ethylene glycol) (EG4) lead to orientations of 5CB that are perpendicular to the plane of incidence of the gold, monolayers presenting tri(ethylene glycol) (EG3) direct 5CB to orient parallel to the plane of incidence of the gold during deposition of the gold film. We also measure the azimuthal anchoring energy of the 5CB to be smaller on the surfaces presenting EG3 (3.2 +/- 0.8 microJ/m2) as compared to EG4 (5.5 +/- 0.9 microJ/m2). These measurements, when combined with other results presented in this paper, are consistent with a physical model in which the orientation and anchoring energies of LCs on these surfaces are influenced by both (i) short-range interactions of 5CB with organized oligomers of ethylene glycol at these surfaces and (ii) long-range interactions of 5CB with the nanometer-scale topography of the obliquely deposited films. For surfaces presenting EG3, these short- and long-range interactions oppose each other, leading to small net values of anchoring energies that we predict are dependent on the level of order in the EG3 SAM. These measurements provide insights into the balance of interactions that control the orientational response of LCs to biological species (proteins, viruses, cells) on these surfaces.     

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.     

Designing highly specific biosensing surfaces using aptamer monolayers on gold

To build highly specific surfaces using aptamer affinity reagents, the effects of linker and coadsorbents were investigated for maximizing target binding and specificity for aptamer-based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) supported on gold. An aptamer that binds the protein thrombin was utilized as a model system to compare different mixed monolayer systems toward maximizing binding and selectivity to the immobilized aptamer. Important factors used to optimize binding characteristics of thrombin to the aptamer-based monolayer films include changes in design elements of the linker and different coadsorbent thiols. Binding events measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and ellipsometry showed that the binding performance of the aptamer SAMs depends principally on the linker and to a lesser extent on the coadsorbent. SAMs formed with HS-(CH2)6-OP(O)2O-(CH2CH2O)6-TTTTT-aptamer exhibited a 4-fold increase in binding capacity versus SAMs made using HS-(CH2)6-TTTTT-aptamer. Furthermore, SAMs made using HS-(CH2)6-OP(O)2O-(CH2CH2O)6-TTTTT-aptamer showed nearly complete specificity for thrombin versus bovine serum albumin (BSA, less than 2% bound), while a SAM incorporating a random DNA fragment (HS-(CH2)6-OP(O)2O-(CH2CH2O)6-TTTTT-RANDOM) showed little binding of thrombin. Irrespective of the aptamer-linker system, use of HS-(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)3OH, referred to as EG(3), as a coadsorbent enhanced binding of thrombin by approximately 2.5-fold compared to that of HS-(CH2)6-OH (mercaptohexanol, MCH).     

Substrate effects in poly(ethylene glycol) self-assembled monolayers on granular and flame-annealed gold

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are surface coatings that efficiently prevent nonspecific adhesion of biomolecules to surfaces. Here, we report on SAM formation of the PEG thiol CH3O(CH2CH2O)17NHCO(CH2)2SH (PEG(17)) on three types of Au films: thermally evaporated granular Au and two types of Au films from hydrogen flame annealing of granular Au, Au(111), and Au silicide. The different Au surfaces clearly affects the morphology and mechanical properties of the PEG(17) SAM, which is shown by AFM topographs and force distance curves. The two types of SAMs found on flame-annealed Au were denoted "soft" and "hard" due to their difference in stiffness and resistance to scratching by the AFM probe. With the aim of nanometer scale patterning of the PEG(17), the SAMs were exposed by low energy (1 kV) electron beam lithography (EBL). Two distinctly different types of behaviour were observed on the different types of SAM; the soft PEG(17) SAM was destroyed in a self-developing process while material deposition was dominant for the hard PEG(17) SAM.     

Comparison of resistance to protein adsorption and stability of thin films derived from alpha-hepta-(ethylene glycol) methyl omega-undecenyl ether on HSi(111) and HSi(100) surfaces

Oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated thin films were prepared by photo-induced hydrosilylation of alpha-hepta-(ethylene glycol) methyl omega-undecenyl ether (EG(7)) on hydrogen-terminated silicon (111) and (100) surfaces. Their resistance to protein adsorption, and stabilities (from hours to days) under a wide variety of conditions, such as air, water, biological buffer, acid, and base, were investigated using contact-angle goniometry and ellipsometry techniques. Results indicated higher stability of the films chemisorbed on Si(111) than on Si(100). Furthermore, micron-sized patterns were fabricated on the films via AFM anodization lithography. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated that various proteins including fibrinogen, avidin, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) predominately adsorbed onto the patterns, but not the rest of the film surfaces.     

Poly(ethylene glycol) monolayer formation and stability on gold and silicon nitride substrates

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are extensively used to modify substrates to prevent nonspecific protein adsorption and to increase hydrophilicity. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, complemented by water contact angle measurements, is employed to investigate the formation and stability upon aging and heating of PEG monolayers formed on gold and silicon nitride substrates. In particular, thiolated PEG monolayers on gold, with and without the addition of an undecylic spacer chain, and PEG monolayers formed with oxysilane precursors on silicon nitride have been probed. It is found that PEG-thiol SAMs are degraded after less than two weeks of exposure to air and when heated at temperatures as low as 120 degrees C. On the contrary, PEG-silane SAMs are stable for more than two weeks, and fewer molecules are desorbed even after two months of aging, compared to those desorbed in two weeks from the PEG-thiol SAMs. A strongly bound hydration layer is found on PEG-silane SAMs aged for two months. Heating PEG-silane SAMs to temperatures as high as 160 degrees C improves the quality of the monolayer, desorbing weakly bound contaminants. The differences in stability between PEG-thiol SAMs and PEG-silane SAMs are ascribed to the different types of bonding to the surface and to the fact that the thiol-Au bond can be easily oxidized, thus causing desorption of PEG molecules from the surface.     

Synthesis of a series of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiol amides designed to address structure and stability of biosensing interfaces.

A strategy for the synthesis of a series of closely related oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiol amides (principally HS(CH(2))(m)CONH(CH(2)CH(2)O)(n)H; m = 2, 5, 11, 15, n = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) and analogous esters has been developed. These compounds were made to study the structure and stability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold in the prospect of designing new biosensing interfaces. For this purpose, monodisperse heterofunctional oligo(ethylene glycols) with up to 12 units were prepared. Selective monoacylation of the symmetrical tetra- and hexa(ethylene glycol) diols as their mesylates with the use of silver(I) oxide was performed. The synthetic approach was based on carbodiimide couplings of various oligo(ethylene glycol) derivatives to omega-(acetylthio) carboxylic acids via a terminal amino or hydroxyl function. SAM structures on gold were studied with respect to thickness, wettability (water contact angles approximately 30 degrees ), and conformation. A good fit was obtained for the relation between monolayer thickness (d) and the number of units in the oligo(ethylene glycol) chain (n): d = 2.8n + 21.8 (A). Interestingly, the corresponding infrared spectroscopy analysis showed a dramatic change in conformation of the oligomeric chains from all-trans (n = 4) to helical (n > or = 6) conformation. A crystalline helical structure was observed in the SAMs for n > 6.     

Globotriose- and oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated self-assembled monolayers: surface forces, wetting, and surfactant adsorption

A set of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated and globotriose-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) has been prepared on gold substrates. Such model surfaces are well defined and have good stability due to the strong binding of thiols and disulfides to the gold substrate. They are thus very suitable for addressing questions related to effects of surface composition on wetting properties, surface interactions, and surfactant adsorption. These issues are addressed in this report. Accurate wetting tension measurements have been performed as a function of temperature using the Wilhelmy plate technique. The results show that the nonpolar character of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated SAMs increases slightly but significantly with temperature in the range 20-55 degrees C. On the other hand, globotriose-terminated SAMs are fully wetted by water at room temperature. Surface forces measurements have been performed and demonstrated that the interactions between oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated SAMs are purely repulsive and similar to those determined between adsorbed surfactant layers with the same terminal headgroup. On the other hand, the interactions between globotriose-terminated SAMs include a short-range attractive force component that is strongly affected by the packing density in the layer. In some cases it is found that the attractive force component increases with contact time. Both these observations are rationalized by an orientation- and conformation-dependent interaction between globotriose headgroups, and it is suggested that hydrogen-bond formation, directly or via bridging water molecules, is the molecular origin of these effects.     

Factors that determine the protein resistance of oligoether self-assembled monolayers --internal hydrophilicity,terminal hydrophilicity,and lateral packing density

Protein resistance of oligoether self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold and silver surfaces has been investigated systematically to elucidate structural factors that determine whether a SAM will be able to resist protein adsorption. Oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG)-, oligo(propylene glycol)-, and oligo(trimethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols with different chain lengths and alkyl termination were synthesized as monolayer constituents. The packing density and chemical composition of the SAMs were examined by XPS spectroscopy; the terminal hydrophilicity was characterized by contact angle measurements. IRRAS spectroscopy gave information about the chain conformation of specific monolayers; the amount of adsorbed protein as compared to alkanethiol monolayers was determined by ellipsometry. We found several factors that in combination or by themselves suppress the protein resistance of oligoether monolayers. Monolayers with a hydrophobic interior, such as those containing oligo(propylene glycol), show no protein resistance. The lateral compression of oligo(ethylene glycol) monolayers on silver generates more highly ordered monolayers and may cause decreased protein resistance, but does not necessarily lead to an all-trans chain conformation of the OEG moieties. Water contact angles higher than 70 degrees on gold or 65 degrees on silver reduce full protein resistance. We conclude that both internal and terminal hydrophilicity favor the protein resistance of an oligoether monolayer. It is suggested that the penetration of water molecules in the interior of the SAM is a necessary prerequisite for protein resistance. We discuss and summarize the various factors which are critical for the functionality of "inert" organic films.