Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications

This study aims to develop a robust and reproducible method for fabricating efficient ultrathin antifouling coatings on gold surfaces by leveraging hydroxylation-based surface modifications. An ultrathin antifouling coating of a monoethylene glycol silane derivative, known to reduce fouling by at le...

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Main Authors: Aries Delica, Mikhail A. Nazarov, Brian De La Franier, Michael Thompson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biosensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/6/343
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author Aries Delica
Mikhail A. Nazarov
Brian De La Franier
Michael Thompson
author_facet Aries Delica
Mikhail A. Nazarov
Brian De La Franier
Michael Thompson
author_sort Aries Delica
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to develop a robust and reproducible method for fabricating efficient ultrathin antifouling coatings on gold surfaces by leveraging hydroxylation-based surface modifications. An ultrathin antifouling coating of a monoethylene glycol silane derivative, known to reduce fouling by at least 90% on flat hydroxylated surfaces, was successfully replicated on flat gold (reducing fouling by ~75%) by hydroxylating its surface with β-mercaptoethanol. This tandem coating contains the monoethylene glycol silane layer on top of the β-mercaptoethanol on the gold. Characterization was performed using contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and antifouling measurements. The results from these techniques, consistent with the literature, confirmed the successful and reproducible application of the tandem coating. Through heterogeneities, including defects and incomplete coverage, the AFM data revealed distinct visible layers of the tandem coating. The direct application of monoethylene glycol silane onto gold resulted in superior antifouling performance (88% reduction), demonstrating that direct silylation exploits pre-existing oxygen-containing species on the gold surface for a more effective antifouling layer. These findings offer a scalable approach for engineering antifouling coatings on gold substrates, with potential applications in biosensing and implantable device antifouling technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-b54a538e9c8d42fabce257fbb631293a2025-08-20T03:09:25ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-05-0115634310.3390/bios15060343Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor ApplicationsAries Delica0Mikhail A. Nazarov1Brian De La Franier2Michael Thompson3Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, CanadaThis study aims to develop a robust and reproducible method for fabricating efficient ultrathin antifouling coatings on gold surfaces by leveraging hydroxylation-based surface modifications. An ultrathin antifouling coating of a monoethylene glycol silane derivative, known to reduce fouling by at least 90% on flat hydroxylated surfaces, was successfully replicated on flat gold (reducing fouling by ~75%) by hydroxylating its surface with β-mercaptoethanol. This tandem coating contains the monoethylene glycol silane layer on top of the β-mercaptoethanol on the gold. Characterization was performed using contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and antifouling measurements. The results from these techniques, consistent with the literature, confirmed the successful and reproducible application of the tandem coating. Through heterogeneities, including defects and incomplete coverage, the AFM data revealed distinct visible layers of the tandem coating. The direct application of monoethylene glycol silane onto gold resulted in superior antifouling performance (88% reduction), demonstrating that direct silylation exploits pre-existing oxygen-containing species on the gold surface for a more effective antifouling layer. These findings offer a scalable approach for engineering antifouling coatings on gold substrates, with potential applications in biosensing and implantable device antifouling technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/6/343surface-modified goldgold-based biosensoracoustic wave biosensornon-specific adsorptionantifouling coating
spellingShingle Aries Delica
Mikhail A. Nazarov
Brian De La Franier
Michael Thompson
Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
Biosensors
surface-modified gold
gold-based biosensor
acoustic wave biosensor
non-specific adsorption
antifouling coating
title Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
title_full Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
title_fullStr Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
title_full_unstemmed Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
title_short Antifouling Modification of Gold Surfaces for Acoustic Wave Sensor Applications
title_sort antifouling modification of gold surfaces for acoustic wave sensor applications
topic surface-modified gold
gold-based biosensor
acoustic wave biosensor
non-specific adsorption
antifouling coating
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/6/343
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AT mikhailanazarov antifoulingmodificationofgoldsurfacesforacousticwavesensorapplications
AT briandelafranier antifoulingmodificationofgoldsurfacesforacousticwavesensorapplications
AT michaelthompson antifoulingmodificationofgoldsurfacesforacousticwavesensorapplications