Self-assembled monolayers: A versatile tool for biofunctionalization of surfaces

Molecular-level control over surface chemistry and topology is critical for the design of biologically active synthetic surfaces. Such surfaces must present active biological ligands in defined conformations, orientations, concentrations, and spatial distributions so as to foster biospecific interactions and inhibit nonspecific ones. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)-spontaneously organized monomolecular assemblies at solid surfaces-provide an elegant and versatile means to endow synthetic surfaces with such exquisite level of control at the molecular level. This chapter reviews the essential physical-chemical foundation for the preparation, structure, and formation mechanisms of SAMs; presents their amenability for spatial control using tools of micro-and nanopatterning; and highlights their enabling capacity for a broad range of biomolecular functionalization.