This paper describes the preparation of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols having structure HS-(CH2)n(0CH2CH2)m0H (m = 3-7) and their use in the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. A combination of experimental evidence derived from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), measurement of contact angles, and ellipsometry implies substantial disorder in the oligo(ethylene glycol)-containing segment. The order in the -(CH2)ngroup is not defined by the available evidence. The SAMs are moderately hydrophilic: 0a(H2O) = 34-38°; 0r(H2O) = 22-25°. A study of monolayers containing mixtures of HS(CH2)nCH3 and HS(CH2)u(OCH2CH2)6OH suggests that the oligo(ethylene glycol) moieties are effective at preventing underlying methylene groups from influencing wetting by water. A limited study demonstrates that these oligo(ethylene glycol)-containing SAMs resist the adsorption of protein from solution and suggests that SAMs will be a useful model system for studying the adsorption of proteins onto organic surfaces.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract