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Taking Orders from Light: Photo-Switchable Working/Inactive Smart Surfaces for Protein and Cell Adhesion
Junji Zhang1, Wenjing Ma1, Xiao-Peng He1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials & Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 22, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed light-controlled smart surfaces using sugar-decorated molecules. These surfaces can selectively bind proteins and cells, offering potential for contamination-free diagnostics and sensing devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Photoresponsive smart surfaces offer remote, noninvasive control for optoelectronics and sensing.
- Modifying photoswitches with biomolecules enhances detection specificity and efficiency.
- Sugar-decorated molecules are explored for targeted biomolecular interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct photoswitchable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using sugar-decorated azobenzene derivatives.
- To investigate the photoswitchable and selective protein/cell adhesion properties of these SAMs.
- To evaluate their potential for contamination-free applications and portable diagnostic devices.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of sugar (galactose/mannose)-decorated azobenzene derivatives.
- Fabrication of photoswitchable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs).
- Electrochemical characterization of protein/cell adhesion under UV/vis irradiation.
Main Results:
- Achieved interconvertible high/low binding affinity toward specific lectins and cells expressing sugar receptors upon UV/vis light exposure.
- Demonstrated minimal response to unselective samples, preventing probe contamination and consumption.
- Validated the use of electrochemistry for developing portable diagnostic devices.
Conclusions:
- Photoswitchable SAMs decorated with sugars enable controlled, selective biomolecular adhesion.
- The developed surfaces minimize unwanted contamination, enhancing probe utility.
- Electrochemical methods facilitate the creation of portable, on-demand diagnostic tools.
