Uniform, Large-Area, Highly Ordered Peptoid Monolayer\nand Bilayer Films for Sensing Applications

Abstract

The\nproduction of atomically defined, uniform, large-area 2D materials\nremains as a challenge in materials chemistry. Many methods to produce\n2D nanomaterials suffer from limited lateral film dimensions, lack\nof film uniformity, or limited chemical diversity. These issues have\nhindered the application of these materials to sensing applications,\nwhich require large-area uniform films to achieve reliable and consistent\nsignals. Furthermore, the development of a 2D material system that\nis biocompatible and readily chemically tunable has been a fundamental\nchallenge. Here, we report a simple, robust method for the production\nof large-area, uniform, and highly tunable monolayer and bilayer films,\nfrom sequence-defined peptoid polymers, and their application as highly\nselective molecular recognition elements in sensor production. Monolayers\nand bilayer films were produced on the centimeter scale using Langmuir–Blodgett\nmethods and exhibited a high degree of uniformity and ordering as\nevidenced by atomic force microscopy, electron diffraction, and grazing\nincidence X-ray scattering. We further demonstrated the utility of\nthese films in sensing applications by employing the biolayer interferometry\ntechnique to detect the specific binding of the pathogen derived proteins,\nshiga toxin and anthrax protective antigen, to peptoid-coated sensors.