Formation and characterization of silane and 5-carboxyfluorescein-labeled silane thin films on mica surfaces

COLL 203

Guy G. Ting II, Nicole M. Kunze, and Kimberly A. O. Pacheco. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado, Ross Hall, Campus Box 98, Greeley, CO 80639
Thin films were constructed using N-(6-aminohexyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (NAHAPTMS) on hydroxylated mica surfaces and were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Once the thin film is in place, it can be modified by attaching a receptor molecule to the terminal amino group on the silane. This project takes advantage of the specificity between antibodies and their analytes for proof-of-concept studies. Films using NAHAPTMS labeled with 5-carboxyfluorescein were formed on mica surfaces. The ratio of silane versus fluorescein-labeled silane making up the thin film was varied to give the optimum coverage and then characterized by FT-IR, AFM, SEM, confocal microscopy, and quenching experiments using antibodies specific for fluorescein.