N-Hydroxysuccinimide-terminated self-assembled monolayers on gold for biomolecules immobilisation

Abstract

Pure and mixed N-hydroxysuccinimide-terminated and butanethiol monolayers were prepared on flat gold (1 1 1) surfaces with the intent of developing suitable platforms for the direct biomolecules immobilisation. The self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were characterised by electrochemical reductive desorption of the thiolate from the gold surface. The data have shown that certain solution proportions of the two compounds yield modified electrodes exhibiting intermediate electrochemical behaviour of the corresponding pure SAMs. The reactivity of the terminal N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) towards amine functionalities has been tested for the covalent attachment of Dopamine. The cyclic voltammetric responses of the investigated monolayers, after contacting with a Dopamine solution, have confirmed the chemical coupling of the amine as well as the formation of mixed SAMs. The Dopamine surface coverage increased with the amount of surface NHS. Laccase was also successfully immobilised onto this modified electrodes. The electrochemical behaviour of the modified SAMs with Laccase indicates direct electron transfer between the immobilised enzyme and the gold surface. Evidence for Laccase immobilisation was also provided by atomic force microscopic measurements.