ABSTRACT
The functionalization of solid surfaces by molecularly controlled architectures is currently an extremely active field of research in interfacial science. In particular, it is hoped that new strategies can be developed that will allow for a purposeful design of the interface between artificial systems with technical substrates and the living world of biomolecules, cells, or even tissues. This chapter focuses on the latter technique and summarizes some important aspects of the formation process of these Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) and their use as a binding matrix for biorecognition reaction between a surface-bound ligand and a receptor protein in solution. An important aspect of surface functionalization concerns the lateral variation of surface properties by patterned SAMs. One attractive protocol for lateral structuring is based on the UV-photooxidation of thiolate groups to sulfonates that are only physisorbed to Au surfaces.
