Nanoscale site-specific immobilization of proteins through electroactivated disulfide exchange

A new method based on the electrochemical oxidation and activation of thiols was used to generate nanoscale patterns on thiol-derivatized silicon oxide surfaces. By application of a potential difference between an AFM tip and a thiolated silicon surface, surface thiols were activated into thiolsulfinates/thiolsulfonates, which are reactive to thiol groups on biomolecules in solution. Thiol-rich protein, beta-galactosidase, was immobilized onto the patterns.