Switchable assembly of ordered molecular layers: A reversible biosensor platform

We have found a novel class of bolaamphiphiles to form well ordered films on functionalized gold surfaces. Particular with these systems, that distinguish them from other self assembled layered systems, the layers can be repeatedly assembled-disassembled by pH cycles. The layers are stable at basic pHs where they exhibit selectivity and stability towards nucleic acids and proteins. The fact that some of them exhibit crystalline order has led us to develop a reversible version of the widely used self-assembled monolayers of alkylthiols on gold. Such systems would have potential use in a wide variety of fields including chemical sensing, molecular electronics, optoelectronics and separations. The character of this work is therefore highly interdisciplinary.

Figure 25: Example of reversible formation of layered nanocomposites.

Contact

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Börje Sellergren
B.Sellergren@infu.uni-dortmund.de
Phone: +49-(0)231-755-4082

Paper

1. Auer, F.; Nelles, G.; Sellergren, B. (2004):
   "Odd-Even chain length dependent order in pH-switchable self-assembled layers" Chem. Eur. J., 10, 3232-3240.

Posters

1. Deshmukh, R.; Sellergren, B. (2005):
   "Mixed monolayers of xxx-functionalized xxx-(4-amidinophenoxy) alkanes: Towards reversible SAM's" ACS Washington .