title: Recognition properties of cucurbit[7]uril self-assembled monolayers studied with force spectroscopy.
abstract: Specific (host-guest) and unspecific (substrate-guest) interactions between self-assembled monolayers of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) on gold (Au) substrates and neutral adamantyl (Ad) guests were resolved by studying these interactions at the single molecule level using dynamic force spectroscopy. The dissociation rate constants of the Ad-Au and the Ad-CB[7] interactions were 0.3 s(-1) and 0.03 s(-1), respectively, indicating that the specific binding is more stable. The probability of observing a specific interaction (40 ± 9%) is similar to the reported surface coverages of CB[7] monolayers on Au substrates. The higher strength and stability of the Ad-CB[7] interactions explains why, although presenting an imperfect coverage, CB[n] monolayers can be used successfully as a platform for surface immobilization.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Nanofabrication Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , P.O. Box 217, 7500AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomez-Casado
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jonkheijm
authors.forename: Jurriaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskens