A Calix[4]arene-based wettability interface sensor for rapid ATP detection

ATP serves as a core indicator of cellular energy metabolism. The detection technology of ATP holds significant application value in fields such as biomedicine, microbiology, and bioengineering, and plays a critical role in advancing the development of precision medicine and biotechnology. A new bi-amide calix [4]arene (BAC4) was synthesized in a good yield of 85 % and was modified on a silicon surface via click chemistry to afford self-assembled monolayers (BAC4-SAMs), which was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle (CA). The BAC4-SAMs exhibits high selectivity to ATP over ADP and AMP, and its wettability can be modulated reversibly in the presence/absence of ATP between superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states. At the concentration of 5.5 × 10^-6 M, ATP remained detectable. The recognition mechanism is studied by UV-vis, ¹H NMR and AFM. Furthermore, the monitoring of ATP hydrolysis is successfully achieved via the BAC4-SAMs.