Using self-assembled monolayers to understand the biomaterials interface

Self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on gold and of supported lipids are structurally well defined surfaces that have been important in understanding the relationships between the structure of a material and the interaction of proteins with the material. The synthetic flexibility available with these model surfaces makes it possible to design surfaces that resist the adsorption of protein, and also surfaces to which proteins can be covalently or reversibly immobilized. The past several years have seen advances in techniques that can pattern and control the topography of surfaces, these methods can create tailored substrates for attached cell culture. (C) Current Chemistry Ltd.