Molecular resolution imaging of an antibiotic peptide in a lipid matrix

Alignment of lyotropic liquid crystals using magnetic nanoparticles improves ionic transport through built-in peptide ion channels

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesize that simultaneous incorporation of ion channel peptides (in this case, potassium channel as a model) and hydrophobic magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles (hFe3O4NPs) within lipidic hexagonal mesophases, and aligning them using an external magnetic field can significantly enhance ion transport through lipid membranes.

EXPERIMENTS

In this study, we successfully characterized the incorporation of gramicidin membrane ion channels and hFe3O4NPs in the lipidic hexagonal structure using SAXS and cryo-TEM methods. Additionally, we thoroughly investigated the conductive characteristics of freestanding films of lipidic hexagonal mesophases, both with and without gramicidin potassium channels, utilizing a range of electrochemical techniques, including impedance spectroscopy, normal pulse voltammetry, and chronoamperometry.

FINDINGS

Our research reveals a state-of-the-art breakthrough in enhancing ion transport in lyotropic liquid crystals as matrices for integral proteins and peptides. We demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of membranes composed of hexagonal lipid mesophases embedded with K+ transporting peptides. This enhancement is achieved through doping with hFe3O4NPs and exposure to a magnetic field. We investigate the intricate interplay between the conductive properties of the lipidic hexagonal structure, hFe3O4NPs, gramicidin incorporation, and the influence of Ca2+ on K+ channels. Furthermore, our study unveils a new direction in ion channel studies and biomimetic membrane investigations, presenting a versatile model for biomimetic membranes with unprecedented ion transport capabilities under an appropriately oriented magnetic field. These findings hold promise for advancing membrane technology and various biotechnological and biomedical applications of membrane proteins.

Influence of the Lipid Backbone on Electrochemical Phase Behavior

Sphingolipids are an important class of lipids found in mammalian cell membranes with important structural and signaling roles. They differ from another major group of lipids, the glycerophospholipids, in the connection of their hydrocarbon chains to their headgroups. In this study, a combination of electrochemical and structural methods has been used to elucidate the effect of this difference on sphingolipid behavior in an applied electric field. N-Palmitoyl sphingomyelin forms bilayers of similar coverage and thickness to its close analogue di-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. Grazing incidence diffraction data show slightly closer packing and a smaller chain tilt angle from the surface normal. Electrochemical IR results at low charge density show that the difference in tilt angle is retained on deposition to form bilayers. The bilayers respond differently to increasing electric field strength: chain tilt angles increase for both molecules, but sphingomyelin chains remain tilted as field strength is further increased. This behavior is correlated with disruption of the hydrogen-bonding network of small groups of sphingomyelin molecules, which may have significance for the behavior of molecules in lipid rafts in the presence of strong fields induced by ion gradients or asymmetric distribution of charged lipids.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Biological Structures: An Elusive Goal for Many Years

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique that can be used to directly observe individual biomolecules at near-molecular scale. Within this framework, STM is of crucial significance because of its role in the structural analysis, the understanding the imaging formation, and the development of relative techniques. Four decades after its invention, it is pertinent to ask how much of the early dream has come true. In this study, we aim to overview different analyses for DNA, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The relevance of STM imaging is exhibited as an opportunity to assist measurements and biomolecular identification in nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, biosensing, and other cutting-edge applications. We believe STM research is still an entire science research ecosystem for joining several areas of expertise towards a goal settlement that has been elusive for many years.

Properties of electrode-supported lipid cubic mesophase films with embedded gramicidin A: structure and ion-transport studies

The lipid cubic phase (LCP) is a nanomaterial composed of water channels surrounded by lipid bilayers. LCPs are stable at room temperature and are biocompatible. These features make the lipid cubic phases similar to biological membranes, and hence, are favorable for embedding membrane proteins. We show that the monoolein cubic phase deposited on the electrode forms a 3D lipid bilayer film convenient for electrochemical investigations of membrane proteins. In this research, we studied the effect of embedding an ionophoric peptide, gramicidin A (gA), on the structure and properties of the LCP film. The phase identity and structural parameters of the gramicidin-doped phase were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The potassium ion transport through the film were studied by electroanalytical methods: alternating current voltammetry (ACV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Increased values for the current of the gramicidin-doped cubic phase compared to the empty cubic phase and changes of the EIS parameters confirmed that the peptide remained in the film in its active dimeric form. Our results show that the LCP can be considered a suitable 3D biomimetic film for the investigation of ion channels and other transporting membrane proteins, and for their application in electrochemical sensors.

Effect of Molecular Structure on Electrochemical Phase Behavior of Phospholipid Bilayers on Au(111)

Lipid bilayers form the basis of biological cell membranes, selective and responsive barriers vital to the function of the cell. The structure and function of the bilayer are controlled by interactions between the constituent molecules and so vary with the composition of the membrane. These interactions also influence how a membrane behaves in the presence of electric fields they frequently experience in nature. In this study, we characterize the electrochemical phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a glycerophospholipid prevalent in nature and often used in model systems and healthcare applications. DPPC bilayers were formed on Au(111) electrodes using Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer deposition and studied with electrochemical methods, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and in situ polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The coverage of the substrate determined with AFM is in accord with that estimated from differential capacitance measurements, and the bilayer thickness is slightly higher than for bilayers of the similar but shorter-chained lipid, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). DPPC bilayers exhibit similar electrochemical response to DMPC bilayers, but the organization of molecules differs, particularly at negative charge densities. Infrared spectra show that DPPC chains tilt as the charge density on the metal is increased in the negative direction, but, unlike in DMPC, the chains then return to their original tilt angle at the most negative potentials. The onset of the increase in the chain tilt angle coincides with a decrease in solvation around the ester carbonyl groups, and the conformation around the acyl chain linkage differs from that in DMPC. We interpret the differences in behavior between bilayers formed from these structurally similar lipids in terms of stronger dispersion forces between DPPC chains and conclude that relatively subtle changes in molecular structure may have a significant impact on a membrane's response to its environment.

Patterning Porous Networks through Self-Assembly of Programmed Biomacromolecules

Two-dimensional (2D) porous networks are of great interest for the fabrication of complex organized functional materials for potential applications in nanotechnologies and nanoelectronics. This review aims at providing an overview of bottom-up approaches towards the engineering of 2D porous networks by using biomacromolecules, with a particular focus on nucleic acids and proteins. The first part illustrates how the advancements in DNA nanotechnology allowed for the attainment of complex ordered porous two-dimensional DNA nanostructures, thanks to a biomimetic approach based on DNA molecules self-assembly through specific hydrogen-bond base pairing. The second part focuses the attention on how polypeptides and proteins structural properties could be used to engineer organized networks templating the formation of multifunctional materials. The structural organization of all examples is discussed as revealed by scanning probe microscopy or transmission electron microscopy imaging techniques.

Electrospray loading and release of hydrophobic gramicidin in polyester microparticles

Gramicidin, a pentadecapeptide with well-known antimicrobial properties and recently identified therapeutic activity against different carcinomas, has been loaded by electrospraying in biodegradable and biocompatible poly(tetramethylene succinate).

Effect of Deuteration on Phase Behavior of Supported Phospholipid Bilayers: A Spectroelectrochemical Study

Differences in molecular organization of two sides of a chemically symmetric, planar bilayer supported on a Au(111) substrate have been monitored with charge density measurements and in situ polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). Isotopic substitution of the hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon chains with deuterium atoms in one monolayer was employed to allow the monitoring of C-H vibrations from that monolayer alone. Charge density measurements of bilayers formed from dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) showed that the effect of placing the deuterated layer next to the substrate or electrolyte had little impact on the electrical barrier properties. In situ PM-IRRAS studies revealed that the structure of the two monolayers was the same at negative potentials, where the bilayer is separated from the Au substrate, but different at more positive potentials or small charge densities, where the bilayer is expected to be directly adsorbed on the Au surface. Thus, the differences observed for the related molecule dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) persist in planar structures, although to a lesser extent. A small but observable variation in the tilt angle was also apparent in the spectra of both isotopically asymmetric DMPE bilayers during the electrochemical phase transition. The fact that this effect was not previously observed for hydrogenous bilayers means that the dynamic behavior of deuterated DMPE and/or of bilayers composed of different monolayers is different from that of hydrogenous DMPE bilayers. These results have implications for future studies in which isotopic substitution is used to extract selectively information from one layer or component of lipid bilayers in spectroscopic or neutron measurements.

Direct observation of nanometer-scale pores of melittin in supported lipid monolayers

Melittin is the most studied membrane-active peptide and archetype within a large and diverse group of pore formers. However, the molecular characteristics of melittin pores remain largely unknown. Herein, we show by atomic force microscopy (AFM) that lipid monolayers in the presence of melittin are decorated with numerous regularly shaped circular pores that can be distinguished from nonspecific monolayer defects. The specificity of these pores is reinforced through a statistical evaluation of depressions found in Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers in the presence and absence of melittin, which eventually allows characterization of the melittin-induced pores at a quantitative low-resolution level. We observed that the large majority of pores exhibit near-circular symmetry and a Gaussian distribution in size, with a mean diameter of ∼8.7 nm. A distinctive feature is a ring of material found around the pores, made by, on average, three positive peaks, with a height over the level of the lipidic background of ∼0.23 nm. This protruding rim is most likely due to the presence of melittin near the pore border. Although the current resolution of the AFM images in the {x, y} plane does not allow distinction of the specific organization of the peptide molecules, these results provide an unprecedented view of melittin pores formed in lipidic interfaces and open new perspectives for future structural investigations of these and other pore-forming peptides and proteins using supported monolayers.

Spectroscopic and permeation studies of phospholipid bilayers supported by a soft hydrogel scaffold

Polarized attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize a lipid coating composed of 70 mol % 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 30 mol % cholesterol, supported on a spherical hydrogel scaffold. The fluorescence microscopy images show an association between the lipid coating and the hydrogel scaffold. Fluorescence permeability measurements revealed that the phospholipid coating acts as a permeability barrier, exhibiting characteristics of a lamellar bilayer coating structure. Variable evanescent wave penetration depth ATR-IR spectroscopy studies validated the determination of quantitative molecular orientation information for a lipid coating supported on a spherical scaffold. These polarized ATR-IR studies measured an average DMPC acyl chain tilt angle of ∼21-25°, with respect to the surface normal.

Single-molecule observation of the K(+)-induced switching of valinomycin within a template network

The K(+)-induced switching of valinomycin has been studied using a molecular template formed by an aromatic oligoamide macrocycle at the liquid/solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Individual valinomycin and its K(+) complex can be identified and resolved in the molecular template, and the high-resolution STM images of valinomycin and its K(+) complex show triangle-like and cyclic structural characteristics, respectively.

Nanomechanical response of bacterial cells to cationic antimicrobial peptides

The effectiveness of antimicrobial compounds can be easily screened, however their mechanism of action is much more difficult to determine. Many compounds act by compromising the mechanical integrity of the bacterial cell envelope, and our study introduces an AFM-based creep deformation technique to evaluate changes in the time-dependent mechanical properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 bacterial cells upon exposure to two different but structurally related antimicrobial peptides. We observed a distinctive signature for the loss of integrity of the bacterial cell envelope following exposure to the peptides. Measurements performed before and after exposure, as well as time-resolved measurements and those performed at different concentrations, revealed large changes to the viscoelastic parameters that are consistent with differences in the membrane permeabilizing effects of the peptides. The AFM creep deformation measurement provides new, unique insight into the kinetics and mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides on bacteria.

Mercury-supported biomimetic membranes for the investigation of antimicrobial peptides

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) consist of a lipid bilayer interposed between an aqueous solution and a hydrophilic "spacer" anchored to a gold or mercury electrode. There is great potential for application of these biomimetic membranes for the elucidation of structure-function relationships of membrane peptides and proteins. A drawback in the use of mercury-supported tBLMs with respect to gold-supported ones is represented by the difficulty in applying surface sensitive, spectroscopic and scanning probe microscopic techniques to gather information on the architecture of these biomimetic membranes. Nonetheless, mercury-supported tBLMs are definitely superior to gold-supported biomimetic membranes for the investigation of the function of membrane peptides and proteins, thanks to a fluidity and lipid lateral mobility comparable with those of bilayer lipid membranes interposed between two aqueous phases (BLMs), but with a much higher robustness and resistance to electric fields. The different features of mercury-supported tBLMs reconstituted with functionally active membrane proteins and peptides of bacteriological or pharmacological interest may be disclosed by a judicious choice of the most appropriate electrochemical techniques. We will describe the way in which electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potential-step chronocoulometry, cyclic voltammetry and phase-sensitive AC voltammetry are conveniently employed to investigate the structure of mercury-supported tBLMs and the mode of interaction of antimicrobial peptides reconstituted into them.

Single-molecule studies on individual peptides and peptide assemblies on surfaces

This review is intended to reflect the recent progress in single-molecule studies of individual peptides and peptide assemblies on surfaces. The structures and the mechanism of peptide assembly are discussed in detail. The contents include the following topics: structural analysis of single peptide molecules, adsorption and assembly of peptides on surfaces, folding structures of the amyloid peptides, interaction between amyloid peptides and dye or drug molecules, and modulation of peptide assemblies by small molecules. The explorations of peptide adsorption and assembly will benefit the understanding of the mechanisms for protein-protein interactions, protein-drug interactions and the pathogenesis of amyloidoses. The investigations on peptide assembly and its modulations could also provide a potential approach towards the treatment of the amyloidoses.

Review: recent advances and current challenges in scanning probe microscopy of biomolecular surfaces and interfaces

The introduction of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques revolutionized the field of condensed matter science by allowing researchers to probe the structure and composition of materials on an atomic scale. Although these methods have been used to make molecular- and atomic-scale measurements on biological systems with some success, the biophysical sciences remain on the cusp of a breakthrough with SPM technologies similar in magnitude to that experienced by fields related to solid-state surfaces and interfaces. Numerous challenges arise when attempting to connect biological molecules that are often delicate, dynamic, and complex with the experimental requirements of SPM techniques. However, there are a growing number of studies in which SPM has been successfully used to achieve subnanometer resolution measurements in biological systems where carefully designed and prepared samples have been paired with appropriate SPM techniques. We review significant recent innovations in applying SPM techniques to biological molecules, and highlight challenges that face researchers attempting to gain atomic- and molecular-level information of complex biomolecular structures.

Effect of headgroup on the physicochemical properties of phospholipid bilayers in electric fields: size matters

The effect of molecular structure on ensemble structure of phospholipid films has been investigated. Bilayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) were prepared on Au(111) electrodes using Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaeffer deposition. Capacitance and charge density measurements were used to investigate the adsorption behavior and barrier properties of the lipid bilayers. In situ polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was employed to investigate the organization of the molecules within the bilayer. DMPE bilayers exhibit lower capacitance than bilayers formed from the related lipid, dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC). The infrared data show that these results can be explained by structural differences between the bilayers formed from each molecule. DMPE organizes into bilayers with hydrocarbon chains tilted at a smaller angle to the surface normal, which results in a thicker film. The hydrocarbon chains contain few conformational defects. Spectra in the carbonyl and phosphate stretching mode regions indicate low solvent content of DMPE films. Both of these effects combine to produce films with lower capacitance and enhanced barrier properties. The results are explained in terms of the differences in structure between the constituent molecules.

Direct visualization of the alamethicin pore formed in a planar phospholipid matrix

We present direct visualization of pores formed by alamethicin (Alm) in a matrix of phospholipids using electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). High-resolution EC-STM images show individual peptide molecules forming channels. The channels are not dispersed randomly in the monolayer but agglomerate forming 2D nanocrystals with a hexagonal lattice in which the average channel-channel distance is 1.90 ± 0.1 nm. The STM images suggest that each Alm is shared between the two adjacent channels. Every channel consists of six Alm molecules. Three or four of these molecules have the hydrophilic group oriented toward the center of the channel allowing for water column formation inside the channel. The dimensions of the central pore in the images are consistent with the dimension of the water column in a model of hexameric pore proposed in the literature. The images obtained in this work validate the barrel-stave model of the pore formed in phospholipid membranes by amphiphatic peptides. They also provide direct evidence for cluster formation by such pores.

Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to the study of surface processes

The application of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy to the study of surface electrode processes is reviewed. The impedance expressions and the physical meaning of the parameters included in them are shown for three surface processes: adsorption kinetics, diffusion towards partially blocked electrodes and surface confined redox reactions. The models are applied to selected examples, showing the capability of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy to obtain fundamental kinetic information of these processes. A review with 83 references.

Interfacial self-assembly of amino acids and peptides: scanning tunneling microscopy investigation

Proteins play important roles in human daily life. To take advantage of the lessons learned from nature, it is essential to investigate the self-assembly of subunits of proteins, i.e., amino acids and polypeptides. Due to its high resolution and versatility of working environment, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has become a powerful tool for studying interfacial molecular assembly structures. This review is intended to reflect the progress in studying interfacial self-assembly of amino acids and peptides by STM. In particular, we focus on environment-induced polymorphism, chiral recognition, and coadsorption behavior with molecular templates. These studies would be highly beneficial to research endeavors exploring the mechanism and nanoscale-controlling molecular assemblies of amino acids and polypeptides on surfaces, understanding the origin of life, unravelling the essence of disease at the molecular level and deeming what is necessary for the "bottom-up" nanofabrication of molecular devices and biosensors being constructed with useful properties and desired performance.

Electric field driven changes of a gramicidin containing lipid bilayer supported on a Au(111) surface

Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaeffer methods were employed to deposit a mixed bilayer consisting of 90% of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 10% of gramicidin (GD), a short 15 residue ion channel forming peptide, onto a Au(111) electrode surface. This architecture allowed us to investigate the effect of the electrostatic potential applied to the electrode on the orientation and conformation of DMPC molecules in the bilayer containing the ion channel. The charge density data were determined from chronocoulometry experiments. The electric field and the potential across the membrane were determined through the use of charge density curves. The magnitudes of potentials across the gold-supported biomimetic membrane were comparable to the transmembrane potential acting on a natural membrane. The information regarding the orientation and conformation of DMPC and GD molecules in the bilayer was obtained from photon polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PMIRRAS) measurements. The results show that the bilayer is adsorbed, in direct contact with the metal surface, when the potential across the interface is more positive than -0.4 V and is lifted from the gold surface when the potential across the interface is more negative than -0.4 V. This change in the state of the bilayer has a significant impact on the orientation and conformation of the phospholipid and gramicidin molecules. The potential induced changes in the membrane containing peptide were compared to the changes in the structure of the pure DMPC bilayer determined in earlier studies.

Single molecule studies of cyclic peptides using molecular matrix at liquid/solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy

We report in this work the single molecule studies of cyclic peptide, cyclosporine A (CsA), using a molecular network formed by star-shaped oligofluorene (StOF-COOH(3)) at the liquid/solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Individual cyclosporine A can be identified and resolved in the molecular network, and the high-resolution STM images of CsA show polygon-like characteristics with a diameter of approximately 1.7 nm. Furthermore, the complex of CsA and Mg(2+) has also been observed to adsorb inside of the molecular matrix. The STM results reveal two adsorption characteristics for the CsA-Mg(2+) complex, which is suggestive of asymmetrical configurations of the complex. The difference in binding energy between the two observed adsorption configurations is estimated to be 1.88 kJ·mol(-1). These results help set the stage for studying the fine structures and functions of various cyclic peptides at the liquid/solid interface.

Building biomimetic membrane at a gold electrode surface

This article describes efforts to build a model biological membrane at a surface of a gold electrode. In this architecture, the membrane may be exposed to static electric fields on the order of 10(7) to 10(8) V m(-1). These fields are comparable in magnitude to the static electric field acting on a natural biological membrane. The field may be conveniently used to manipulate organic molecules within the membrane. By turning a knob on the control instrument one can deposit or lift the membrane from the gold surface. Electrochemical techniques can be used to control the physical state of the film while the infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), surface imaging by STM and AFM and neutron scattering techniques can be employed to study conformational changes of organic molecules and their ordering within the membrane. This is shown on examples of membranes built of a simple zwitterionic phospholipid such as 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and a mixed membrane composed of DMPC and cholesterol. The results illustrate the tremendous effect of cholesterol on the membrane structure. Two methods of membrane deposition at the electrode surface, namely by unilamellar vesicles fusion and using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, are compared. Applications of these model systems to study interactions of small antibiotic peptides with lipids are discussed.

Phase segregation of untethered zwitterionic model lipid bilayers observed on mercaptoundecanoic-acid-modified gold by AFM imaging and force mapping

Planar supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are often studied as model cell membranes because they are accessible to a variety of surface-analytic techniques. Specifically, recent studies of lipid phase coexistence in model systems suggest that membrane lateral organization is important to a range of cellular functions and diseases. We report the formation of phase-segregated dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/sphingomyelin/cholesterol bilayers on mercaptoundecanoic-acid-modified (111) gold by spontaneous fusion of unilamellar vesicles, without the use of charged or chemically modified headgroups. The liquid-ordered (l(o)) and liquid-disordered (l(d)) domains are observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) height and phase imaging. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the bilayer were characterized by force-indentation maps. Fits of force indentation to Sneddon mechanics yields average apparent Young's moduli of the l(o) and l(d) phases of 100 +/- 2 and 59.8 +/- 0.9 MPa, respectively. The results were compared to the same lipid membrane system formed on mica with good agreement, though modulus values on mica appeared higher. Semiquantitative comparisons suggest that the mechanical properties of the l(o) phase are dominated by intermolecular van der Waals forces, while those of the fluid l(d) phase, with relatively weak van der Waals forces, are influenced appreciably by differences in surface charge density between the two substrates, which manifests as a difference in apparent Poisson ratios.

Solvent-controlled 2D host-guest (2,7,12-trihexyloxytruxene/coronene) molecular nanostructures at organic liquid/solid interface investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy

The two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled networks of 2,7,12-trihexyloxytruxene (Tr) are shown to accommodate coronene guest molecules on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces. The host-guest structures are revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at liquid/solid interfaces. The effect of solvents on the host-guest structures is intensively investigated in different solvents such as 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), 1-phenyloctane, 1-octanol, and tetradecane. In contrast to the similar 2D hexagonal self-assembly of Tr host template on HOPG in different solvents, the formation of host-guest nanostructures of coronene in Tr 2D network strongly depend on the polarity of the solvents. The thermodynamic equilibrium during the host-guest assembly process is discussed, and the solvent-guest interaction is proposed as a main contributor for the observed solvent effect in the 2D host-guest self-assembly process. The results are significant to surface host-guest chemistry and nanopatterning.

Ion strength and pH sensitive phase transition of N-isobutyryl-L-(D)-cysteine monolayers on Au(111) surfaces

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of N-isobutyryl-L-(D)-cysteine (NIBC) on Au(111) surfaces were successfully prepared by immersing the Au(111) surfaces in the preheated pure NIBC aqueous solutions for a certain time and characterized by means of scanning tunneling microscopy. Close-packed lamellar structures with a rectangular (4 x radical3) lattice were found both in the SAMs of L-NIBC and D-NIBC. The pH value of the aqueous solutions was found to be sensitive to adjust the SAM structures during the assembly. Changing the pH value from 5 to 7 may completely shift the SAM structures from close-packed lamellar phase to loose-packed perpendicular phase. Combined with density functional theory calculations, such kind of phase transition was explained by the breaking of hydrogen bonds between carboxylic groups and the formation of extra interactions between COO(-) and Au.