TEMPLATE-ASSISTED NANO-PATTERNING OF SOLID-SURFACES

Protein layers are deposited on the surface of implanted biomaterials. Better understanding of the interaction between the surface protein l ayers and the biological system would lead to the development of fixtu re biomaterials with superior biocompatibilities. Well-organized biore cogniznble surfaces can be formed with various template molecules that provide an appropriate spacing for the attachment of recognition grou ps to the modified surface. Silane coupling reagents, porphyrin thiols , and cyclic peptides are being used as templates to introduce nanosca le patterns on solid surfaces. Synthesis of these templates and charac terization of the modified surface are described. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.