Surface Reactions: Bio-catalysis an Emerging Alternative

Abstract

Interfacial phenomena and reactions will dominate the performance of current micro and nano devices, which are increasingly being used in a large number of applications in the areas of biotechnology, clinical diagnosis, food safety testing, and environmental testing. Due to the extremely high area to volume ratio, interfacial interactions become the dominant factor in determining the device performance in which they are being used. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide excellent platforms to study these interfacial reactions. Chemical modifications of these SAMs are carried out using existing organic methodologies. Apart from limitations due to the steric bulk of the interface these organic techniques also have severe limitation in that they use toxic metal catalyst and solvents and also may use high temperature and pressure in certain reactions. This review focuses on the various organic reactions carried out on these SAMs. Challenges and limitations of current organic reactions at surfaces are discussed. Emerging ‘green chemistry’ biocatalytic techniques as an alternative for performing surface modifications of these SAMs are reviewed. These biocatalytic reactions offer the potential for milder reactions conditions, avoiding toxic metal catalysts and also the potential to carry these surface reactions in solvent-less conditions. Although limited research exists in this emerging field the potential environmental benefits warrants further work in this growing area.