MOLECULAR RECOGNITION AT SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS - OPTIMIZATION OF SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZATION

Sulfur-based molecules containing biotin and hydroxyl groups have been used to create a wide variety of self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces. Surface plasmon resonance has been used to study in situ the binding of streptavidin to these monolayers from solution. The self-assembled monolayers allow a high degree of control over the surface properties. The choice of an appropriate biotin-containing molecule, with a spacer segment, and the dilution of this molecule within the monolayer by hydroxythiols, allows optimization of the binding properties of the monolayer-nonspecific interactions between streptavidin and the surface are below detection limits, and specific binding between the streptavidin and biotin groups can be maximized.