Title: Covalently-bound organic monolayers for biosensor applications

Authors: Ahmed Arafat

Addresses: SABIC Chair in Catalysis, Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80204, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: In this paper, we present a detailed investigation on monolayer formation with thicknesses amounting 1 nm to 3 nm on silicon and silicon nitride surfaces. Thermal and photochemical methods are successfully used to form such stable and densely backed monolayers. Further, functionalisation of these surfaces with activated esters, amine groups are also presented. Static water contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to follow the progress of the reaction and final characterisation of the resulting surfaces. These monolayers can be further functionalised to link DNA and other biomolecules.

Keywords: silicon surfaces; organic monolayers; photochemicals; biosensors; DNA; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; XPS; infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy; IRRAS; atomic force microscopy; AFM; monolayer formation; silicon nitride; biomaterials; nanomaterials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2009.027694

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2/3/4/5, pp.22 - 30

Published online: 08 Aug 2009 *

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