Self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates presenting tri(propylene sulfoxide) groups resist the adsorption of protein

This communication demonstrates that self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates on gold that present tri(propylene sulfoxide) groups prevent the nonspecific adsorption of protein and subsequent attachment of cells. We have previously demonstrated that SAMs presenting short oligomers of the ethylene glycol group ([-CH₂CH₂O-)]_n, n= 2-7) effectively resist the nonspecific adsorption of protein. The goal of the present work was to design a new material that resists the adsorption of protein but that has no counterpart in available biomaterial. The most important result from this work is the demonstration of a successful process for the de novo design and testing of a new material that resists the nonspecific adsorption of protein the properties of the tri(propylene sulfoxide) group indicate that the oligo(ethylene glycol)group is not unique in its ability to serve as an inert surface. The sulfoxide group is not used commonly in biomaterials, but was chosen by mimicking characteristics of the structurally unrelated oligo(ethylene glycol) group.