Scanning force microscopic study of protein adsorption on the surface of organosilane monolayers prepared by the Langmuir‐Blodgett method

The n‐octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS, CH₃(CH₂)₁₇SiCl₃), 18‐nonadecenyltrichlorosilane (NTS, CH₂=CH(CH₂)₁₇SiCl₃), [2‐(perfluorooctyl)ethyl] trichlorosilane (FOETS, CF₃(CF₂)₇CH₂CH₂SiCl₃) monolayers, and their mixed monolayers were used as the model substrates for the study of protein adsorption mechanism. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy was applied to analyze the protein adsorption behavior onto the surface of the monolayers. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to observe the monolayer surfaces after exposure of these monolayers to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and γ‐globulin(IgG) solution. AFM observation revealed that the charged protein either below or above the isoelectric point was preferentially adsorbed onto the FOETS phase of the (OTS/FOETS) mixed monolayer. SPR revealed that the amount of adsorbed protein in the charged state was lower than that in the neutral state. These results indicate that the preferential adsorption of protein onto the FOETS phase for the mixed monolayer systems at either below or above pI is due to (1) the minimization of interfacial free energy between the monolayer surface and the buffer solution, and (2) the electrostatic repulsion among protein molecules bearing charges.     

Dependence of the molecular aggregation state of octadecylsiloxane monolayers on preparation methods

The molecular aggregation state of octadecylsiloxane monolayers on Si-wafer substrate surfaces prepared from octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) or octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) was investigated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), contact angle measurement, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The OTMS monolayer was prepared by using the chemical vapor adsorption (CVA) method, and the OTS monolayers, which were used as reference samples, were prepared either by chemisorption (OTS-S) or by the water-cast method (OTS-W). The GIXD, FT-IR, lateral force microscopic (LFM) measurements, and FE-SEM observation revealed that the alkyl chains in the OTMS monolayers prepared using the CVA method are in an amorphous state at room temperature. According to the LFM measurement, the transition temperature from the hexagonal crystalline phase to the amorphous phase was found to be ca. 333 K for the OTS-S monolayer prepared by the chemisorption method. However, the phase transition was not observed in the OTMS monolayer prepared by the CVA method. Also, the atomic force microscopic (AFM) observation and the contact angle measurement showed that the OTMS monolayer prepared by the CVA method has a uniform surface when compared to the OTS monolayers. These results indicated that organosilane compounds in the monolayer prepared by the CVA method were immobilized on the Si-wafer substrate surface in an amorphous state, which was quite different from the hexagonal crystalline state obtained by the chemisorption and water-cast methods.     

Macroscopic-wetting anisotropy on the line-patterned surface of fluoroalkylsilane monolayers

Micropatterned fluoroalkylsilane monolayer surfaces with liquidphilic/liquidphobic area (line width 1-20 microm) were prepared with few defects by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolithography. The anisotropic wetting of a macroscopic droplet with a 0.5-5 mm diameter on the micropatterned surfaces was investigated. The strong anisotropy of the contact angle and the sliding angle and droplet distortion for fluoroalkylsilane/silanol patterned surfaces was attributed to the difference in the energy barrier of wetting between parallel and orthogonal lines. The wetting anisotropy decreased with decreases in the liquidphilic area. Fluoroalkylsilane/alkylsilane patterned surfaces with small differences in the surface free energies of the components showed anisotropic wetting only for the low-surface-tension liquids.     

Classification for molecular aggregation structure of monolayers on the water surface

The melting temperature, T_m, and the crystalline relaxation temperature, Tα_c, of palmitic acid and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine monolayers on the water surface were evaluated by combination of two kinds of measurements: first, the subphase temperature, T_sp, dependence of the monolayer modulus based on the surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherm and second, the T_sp dependence of the electron diffraction, ED patterns of their monolayers. On the basis of their characteristic temperatures of the monolayers, the aggregation structure of the monolayers which were transferred onto a hydrophilic SiO substrate at various surface pressures and T_sps was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. The π-A isotherm for the fatty acid monolayer on the pure water surface represented the aggregating process of isolated domains grown right after spreading a solution on the pure water surface. The fatty acid monolayer on the pure water surface was classified into a crystalline monolayer (T_sp < T_m) and an amorphous one (T_sp > T_m). The crystalline monolayer was further classified into two types; crystalline domains were aligned along their crystallographic axes owing to an induced sintering at the interfacial region among monolayer domains by surface compression (T_sp < Tα_c), while not for T_sp > Tα_c. In the case of the phospholipid monolayer, the monolayer was classified into a compressing crystallized monolayer (T_sp < T_m) and an amorphous one (T_sp > T_m). The compressing crystallized monolayer is a monolayer in which crystallization was gradually induced at plateau region on the π-A isotherm by compression. Electron diffraction studies of arachidic acid monolayers in different dissociated states of hydrophilic groups revealed that formation of the compressing crystallized monolayer was attributed to an electrostatic repulsion among ionic hydrophilic groups. It was concluded that the aggregation structure of monolayers on the water surface was systematically classified into ‘the crystalline monolayer’, ‘the amorphous monolayer’ and ‘the compressing crystallized monolayer’, with respect to thermal and chemical (intermolecular repulsive) factors.     

In vitro haemocompatibility and stability of two types of heparin-immobilized silicon surfaces

Heparin was covalently immobilized onto a silicon surface by two different methods, carbodiimide-based immobilization and photo-immobilization. In the former method, a (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or multilayer was first coated onto the silicon surface as the bridging layer, and heparin was then attached to the surface in the presence of water-soluble carbodiimide. In the latter method, an octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) SAM was coated on the silicon surface as the bridging layer, and heparin was modified by attaching photosensitive aryl azide groups. Upon UV illumination, the modified heparin was then covalently immobilized onto the surface. The hydrophilicity of the silicon surface changed after each coating step, and heparin aggregates on APTMS SAM and OTS SAM were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In vitro haemocompatibility assays demonstrated that the deposition of APTMS SAM, APTMS multilayer and OTS SAM enhanced the silicon's haemocompatibility, which was further enhanced by the heparin immobilization. There is no evident distinction regarding the haemocompatibility between the heparin-immobilized surfaces by both methods. However, heparin on silicon with APTMS SAM and multilayer as the bridging layers is very unstable when tested in vitro with a saline solution at 37 °C, due to the instability of APTMS SAM and multilayer on silicon. Meanwhile, photo-immobilized heparin on silicon with OTS SAM as the bridging layer showed superb stability.     

辛基三乙氧基硅烷/十八烷基三氯硅烷均相混合自组装单分子膜的表征及其形成机制

使用接触角、原子力显微镜（AFM）、静电力显微镜（EFM）和傅里叶变换红外（FTIR）光谱对辛基三乙氧基硅烷（C8TES）/十八烷基三氯硅烷（OTS）均相混合自组装单分子膜（SAM）及其形成过程中样品表面的润湿性、表面形貌、表面电势和膜内分子的有序度进行了表征,对采用分步法利用C8TES分子空间位阻制备C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM的反应机制进行了研究. 结果表明,C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM表面接触角为105°,样品表面平整、光滑;对样品表面电势进行分析后发现,混合SAM表面电势分布均匀,电势频率分布为典型的正态分布;在均相混合SAM的形成过程中,样品表面电势的分布始终十分均匀,电势频率分布均为典型的正态分布;C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM是一种具有上下两层分子排列密度不同的膜结构的单分子膜,其内部结构至少在500 nm×500 nm到20 μm×20 μm尺度上是高度均匀一致的,膜内没有明显的特征结构,具有典型的均相混合SAM特征.     

Phase transition of alkylsilane monolayers studied by temperature-dependent grazing incidence X-ray diffraction

The phase transition of organosilane monolayers on Si-wafer substrate surfaces prepared from octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) or docosyltrichlorosilane (DOTS) was investigated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) at various temperatures. The OTS monolayer was prepared by a chemisorption method. The DOTS monolayer was prepared by a water-cast method (DOTS). The GIXD measurement clarified that the OTS monolayer also changed from hexagonal phase to amorphous state above a melting point of otadecyl groups. The GIXD measurements also clarified that the molecular aggregation state of the DOTS monolayer changes from an anisotropic phase to an isotropic phase with an increase in temperature. An estimated linear thermal expansion coefficient of the lattice lengths of a and b of the DOTS monolayer in the rectangular crystalline state assigned a similar value to those of bulk polyethylene with an orthorhombic crystalline lattice. The setting angle of the ab plane of the rectangular DOTS monolayer also showed similar behavior to that of the ab plane of bulk polyethylene.     

Effect of formation temperature and roughness on surface potential of octadecyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayer on silicon surfaces

Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are employed to probe the surface potential and topography of octadecyltrichlorosilane [OTS, CH3(CH2)17SiCl3] self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on oxidized Si(100) and polycrystalline silicon surfaces as a function of deposition temperature and substrate roughness with particular attention paid to the monitoring of SAM adsorption on highly rough surfaces. In these studies, it is found that the surface potential magnitude of the adsorbed layer is larger for monolayers formed in the liquid-condensed (LC) phase than for those formed in the liquid-expanded (LE) phase. Experiments on individual islands in the LC phase show that surface potential and monolayer thickness increase with increasing island size; islands larger than about 1.5 microm reach maximum potential and height values of 48+/-4 mV and 2.7+/-0.1 nm, with respect to the underlying oxidized surface. It is also shown that KPFM is suitable for the study of monolayer adsorption on polycrystalline surfaces, for which preexisting surface texture makes the use of traditional scanning probe techniques for molecular recognition difficult. In these scenarios it is shown that OTS growth occurs preferentially along grain boundaries in fingerlike patterns having a molecular arrangement comparable to that of LC phase islands on atomically smooth silicon. These findings indicate that surface potential measurements provide a highly accurate, local means of probing monolayer morphology on rough surfaces encountered in many applications.     

组份可控的钌螯合物功能单分子膜

用作“表面离子”的钌螯合物Ru(dpphen)32+与脂肪酸类成膜分子以1:2混合时能够得到稳定的混合单分子膜.以十八烷基三氯硅烷（octadecayl trichloro silane, OTS）分子部分取代Ru(dpphen)32+,得到功能分子组份可控的混合单分子膜.研究表明,OTS分子在纯水表面上可以形成交联网状单分子膜结构,混入硬脂酸（SA）分子后,网状结构逐渐被破坏.SA含量增加,破坏的程度就增大,直至SA/OTS为3:1时,完全没有网状交联结构,形成可以用来沉积LB膜的均匀致密的单分子膜.表面离子Ru(dpphen)32+与OTS和SA一起构成三组份混合单分子膜,OTS和Ru(dpphen)32+为表面离子.单分子膜中混有Ru(dpphen)32+分子,可以有效地阻止OTS的交联发生,同时Ru(dpphen)32+/SA基团与OTS/SA基团是均匀共混的.改变Ru(dpphen)32+/SA基团与OTS/SA基团的混合比,即可以做到Ru(dpphen)32+的组份精确可控,得到可用来沉积LB膜的均一、稳定的单分子膜.     

辛基三乙氧基硅烷/十八烷基三氯硅烷均相混合自组装单分子膜的表征及其形成机制

使用接触角、原子力显微镜(AFM)、静电力显微镜(EFM)和傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱对辛基三乙氧基硅烷(C8TES)/十八烷基三氯硅烷(OTS)均相混合自组装单分子膜(SAM)及其形成过程中样品表面的润湿性、表面形貌、表面电势和膜内分子的有序度进行了表征,对采用分步法利用C8TES分子空间位阻制备C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM的反应机制进行了研究.结果表明,C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM表面接触角为105°,样品表面平整、光滑;对样品表面电势进行分析后发现,混合SAM表面电势分布均匀,电势频率分布为典型的正态分布;在均相混合SAM的形成过程中,样品表面电势的分布始终十分均匀,电势频率分布均为典型的正态分布;C8TES/OTS均相混合SAM是一种具有上下两层分子排列密度不同的膜结构的单分子膜,其内部结构至少在500 nm×500 nm到20μm×20μm尺度上是高度均匀一致的,膜内没有明显的特征结构,具有典型的均相混合SAM特征.     

Tribological properties of alkylsilane self-assembled monolayers

In this study, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of adhesive contact and friction between alkylsilane Si(OH)(3)(CX(2))(10)CX(3) and alkoxylsilane Si(OH)(2)(CX(2))(10)CX(3) (where X = H or F) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on an amorphous silica substrate. The alkylsilane SAMs are primarily hydrogen-bonded or physisorbed to the surface. The alkoxylsilane SAMs are covalently bonded or chemisorbed to the surface. Previously, we studied the chemisorbed systems. In this work, we study the physisorbed systems and compare the tribological properties with the chemisorbed systems. Furthermore, we examine how water at the interface of the SAMs and substrate affects the tribological properties of the physisorbed systems. When less than a third of a monolayer is present, very little difference in the microscopic friction coefficient mu or shear stresses is observed. For increasing amounts of water, the values of mu and the shear stresses decrease; this effect is somewhat more pronounced for fluorocarbon alkylsilane SAMs than for the hydrocarbon SAMs. The observed decrease in friction is a consequence of a slip plane that occurs in the water as the amount of water is increased. We studied the frictional behavior using relative shear velocities ranging from v = 2 cm/s to 2 m/s. Similar to previously reported results for alkoxylsilane SAMs, the values of the measured stress and mu for the alkylsilane SAM systems decrease monotonically with v.     

Critical influence of the alkane length in surface and liquid-crystalline properties of perfluorodecyl-n-alkanes

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements together with texture observation with polarizing microscope revealed the presence of a smectic phase for shorter homologues. Film forming properties of all the perfluorodecyl-n-alkanes synthesized here at the air-water interface were thoroughly investigated. Nearly all the compounds investigated were found to be capable of Langmuir monolayer formation when spread at the water-air interface, apart from semifluorinated alkanes (SFA) containing short hydrogenated moiety (n < 10), which partially dissolve in the water subphase. The investigated homologous series of SFA can be divided into four groups, regarding their liquid-crystalline and surface properties. The first group includes molecules with n = 6-10, which form smectic phases in the bulk and do not form stable monolayers at the free water surface. SFA containing 11 or 12 hydrogenated carbons belong to the second group, forming smectic phases at elevated temperatures, which transform into 3D ordering upon cooling. These molecules are found to form Langmuir monolayers of intermediate stability. The remaining groups contain perfluorodecylalkanes with n > 12, which differ in their calorimetric properties; however, both form very stable films on the water surface and do not exhibit liquid-crystalline properties.     

Monomolecular reassembly of a crystalline bacterial cell surface layer (S-layer) on untreated and modified silicon surfaces

Scanning force microscopy was used to investigate the recrystallization of isolated bacterial cell surface layer (S-layer) proteins of Bacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a variant V1 on untreated, cleaned, silanized and photoresist-coated silicon wafers. With the exception of the hydrophilic surface of cleaned wafers, all other surfaces showed hydrophobic surface characteristics. Recrystallization occurred only at the hydrophobic surfaces, and, with respect to the bacterial cell, the S-layer was always oriented with its more hydrophobic outer face against the interface. Monolayer formation was initiated by crystal growth from several distant randomly oriented nucleation points and terminated by neighbouring, also growing, crystalline areas. The size of the individual crystalline domains formed in this way was in the range of 5–10 μm in diameter. The entire silicon surface was covered by a coherent monolayer after a recrystallization time of approximately 1 h.     

含双疏水链阴离型两性分子单分子膜的聚集行为

单分子膜在水面上的聚集状态与膜分子的亲水基间的静电排斥作用和疏水基间Van der Waals引力的相对大小有关.在293K亚温度下,2C~nSN~a单分子膜聚集行为的电子显微研究表明,n=12时呈非晶性单分子;n=12时在较高的表面压下形成结晶性单分子膜;n=16时可在表面压为0mN.m^-1的情况下形成结晶性单分子膜.FT-IR和透射电镜对单分子膜聚集结构的解析结果相互一致.本文还讨论了压缩速度对单分子膜π-A等温线的影响.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of dimethylchlorooctadecylsilane covalently bonded to ultrathin silica films immobilized on Ag surfaces

FTIR and Raman spectroscopies have been used to characterize the structure and conformational order of dimethylchlorooctadecylsilane (DOS) covalently bonded to ultrathin silica films supported on Ag substrates. Ultrathin silica films of ca. 30 Å thickness prepared from sol-gel methods are immobilized on Ag surfaces modified with a self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (3MPT). This layered structure provides a unique opportunity for acquiring complementary spectral data from both FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, which are useful in elucidating alkylsilane conformation pertaining to stationary phases for reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Characterization of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) layers on thin silica films of ca. 800 Å thickness on 3MPT-modified Ag surfaces has been reported previously. Differences between the ultrathin silica films used in this study and the thin silica films used in this previous study are considered. The results from both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy presented here suggest that bonded DOS alkyl chains are in a disordered, liquid-like state with close to monolayer surface coverage.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of dimethylchlorooctadecylsilane covalently bonded to ultrathin silica films immobilized on Ag surfaces

FTIR and Raman spectroscopies have been used to characterize the structure and conformational order of dimethylchlorooctadecylsilane (DOS) covalently bonded to ultrathin silica films supported on Ag substrates. Ultrathin silica films of ca. 30 A thickness prepared from sol-gel methods are immobilized on Ag surfaces modified with a self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (3MPT). This layered structure provides a unique opportunity for acquiring complementary spectral data from both FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, which are useful in elucidating alkylsilane conformation pertaining to stationary phases for reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Characterization of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) layers on thin silica films of ca. 800 A thickness on 3MPT-modified Ag surfaces has been reported previously. Differences between the ultrathin silica films used in this study and the thin silica films used in this previous study are considered. The results from both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy presented here suggest that bonded DOS alkyl chains are in a disordered, liquid-like state with close to monolayer surface coverage.     

Miscibility and crystallization of polytetrafluoro‐ethylene/poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐perfluoropropylvinyl ether) blends

Miscibility and crystallization behavior have been studied for polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)/poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐2 mol‐% perfluoropropylvinyl ether)(PFA copolymer) blends by the use of differential scanning calorimetry, electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. In the amorphous phase, the two components were miscible with each other over all blending ratios, and it was found that the PFA copolymer was compatible with the PTFE matrix, when the PFA content is ≤ 50 wt.‐%, while PTFE was mixed in the PFA matrix when the PFA content is >50 wt.‐%. All the blends were crystalline as well as PTFE and PFA. The crystallization behavior was closely connected to the polymer composition of the amorphous state described above. It was conjectured that the crystallization is controlled by the PTFE matrix when the PFA content is ≤ 50 wt.‐%, while by the PFA matrix when the PFA content is >50 wt.‐%.     

Self-assembled silane monolayers: fabrication with nanoscale uniformity

Illustrating direct connections between surface chemical events and mechanical and topological characteristics of self-assembled monolayers derived from octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) adsorption on Si(100), layers prepared in the presence and absence of moisture have been characterized. Uniform and robust self-assembled monolayers are demonstrated provided the Si(100) surface is fully hydroxylated by treatment in piranha solution and the dried surface is exposed to OTS under strict anhydrous conditions. With nanoscale resolution, the uniform mechanical properties are confirmed by interfacial force microscopy while the uniform topological properties are evident in atomic force microscopy images. The monolayer character of the OTS coverage is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and patterning experiments. Analogous surfaces, prepared in the presence of moisture, exhibit nonuniform topological and mechanical properties.     

Synthesis,characterization and fungicidal activity of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate and phosphate

Monolayers of amphiphilic di-block copolymer, PEO₄₀-b-PMA(Az)₁₉ on water surface and solid surfaces, such as silicon wafer and quartz glass, were analyzed by surface pressure — molecular area (π-A) isotherm, UV-Vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and total X-ray reflectivity (TXR). The monolayer prepared at 22 mN m-1 consisted of H aggregated azobezene (Az) moieties, which orientated perpendicular to the solid surface. The monolayer structure, including H aggregated Az and orientation of Az, was stable after annealing at 98°C, at which temperature the hydrophilic PEO domain was the liquid phase and the hydrophobic PMA(Az) was in the smectic A phase.     

High-resolution investigations of ripple structures formed by femtosecond laser irradiation of silicon

We report on the structural investigation of self-organized periodic microstructures (ripples) generated in Si(100) targets after multishot irradiation by approximately 100-fs to 800-nm laser pulses at intensities near the single shot ablation threshold. Inspection by surface sensitive microscopy, e.g., atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveal complex structural modifications upon interaction with the laser: even well outside the ablated area, the target surface exhibits fine ripple-like undulations, consisting of alternating crystalline and amorphous silicon. Inside the heavily modified area, amorphous silicon is found only in the valleys but not on the crests which, instead, consist of highly distorted crystalline phases, rich in defects.