Consecutive Selective Adsorption of Pentamidine and Phosphate Biomolecules on a Self-Assembled Layer:  Reversible Formation of a Chemically Selective Coating

In situ ellipsometric film thickness measurements, FT-IR external reflectance spectroscopy, and potentiometric measurements indicated that the amphiphile pentamidine (PAM), a bisbenzamidine, associated by self-assembly with a preformed self-assembled monolayer of a mercaptoalkanoic acid on gold. The structural properties of PAM and the nature of the substrate were ideal for the formation of a densely packed monolayer. This process was fully reversible, as demonstrated by changing the pH of the surrounding medium. Thus, disassembly−reassembly occurred when the pH was cycled between 8.7 and 3. The bilayer structure, featuring a positively charged amidinium surface, was subsequently used for s…