Enzymatic synthesis of amylose brushes revisited: details from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry.

The successful synthesis of amylose brushes via enzymatic "grafting from" polymerization and the detailed characterization of all synthetic steps by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements are reported. Au and Si surfaces are amino-functionalized with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of cystamine and 3-aminopropyldimethyethoxysilane (APDMES), respectively. Maltoheptaose is covalently attached to the amino-functionalized Au and Si surfaces via reductive amination. Amylose brushes are grown from maltoheptaose modified Au and Si surfaces with enzymatic polymerization using potato phosphorylase and Rabbit Muscle phosphorylase, as evidenced by spectroscopic ellipsometry and XPS measurements.