Ion-channel sensors based on ETH 1001 ionophore embedded in charged-alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on gold electrode surfaces.

An ion-channel sensor was demonstrated by immobilizing ETH 1001, an ionophore for ion-selective electrodes, on a gold electrode surface. The approach for preparing the sensor was to incorporate the ionophore into a mixed self-assembled monolayer of 10-mercaptodecanesulfonate and 11-hydroxy-1-undecanethiol formed on the surface. The voltammetric responses for the thus prepared sensor to the primary cation Ca(2+) were observed by using [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) as an electroactive marker. The ionophore was stably immobilized on the electrode surface with the hydrophobic interaction between its alkyl chains and those of the alkanethiol. The introduction of a proper charge density to the electrode surface improved the sensor sensitivity with retaining the selective response to Ca(2+) against Mg(2+) with concentrations above 10(-4) M.