American Chemical Society, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 24(116), p. 13217-13224, 2012
DOI: 10.1021/jp3031623
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Surface nanostructuration was successfully achieved by binding the polyoxometalate (POM) (NBu4)3[PW11O39{(SiC6H4NH2)2O}] covalently onto planar gold surfaces. To do so, POMs functionalized with two terminal amino groups were synthesized and reacted with a mercaptoundecanoic acid self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on gold. These amine-terminated POM macroanions proved to be remarkably efficient as nanostructuring agents. Using polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), conditions were optimized to elaborate a dense and well-dispersed layer of POMs, leaving a "free" amine function for the further linkage of proteins. Antirabbit immunoglobulins (anti-rIgGs) were thus grafted on the POM-structured layer, and the recognition of their specific target, rabbit immunoglobulin (rIgGs), was tested by using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation measurement (QCM-D). The recognition was good and highly specific, indicating that an efficient, nanostructured biosensor has been constructed. The method reported herein can be easily applied, not requiring any sophisticated experimental setup, and is promising for the patterning of any molecular probes bearing amine groups.