Molecular recognition of Langmuir–Blodgett polymer films containing uracil groups

Novel copolymers, poly(acryroyloxymethyluracil-co-hexylacrylamide)s (poly(AU-co-HAAm)s), have been synthesized by radical copolymerization with different monomer ratios. The poly(AU-co-HAAm)s formed stable monolayers at the air–water interface and could be deposited on solid substrates as Y-type films by the vertical dipping method. The molecular structure of poly(AU-co-HAAm) LB films was determined by reflection absorption and transmission FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction measurements. Evidence for preferential orientation of both the AU and HAAm units was found. The LB films deposited on quartz crystal microbalance substrates adsorbed adenosine molecules, and the adsorbed amounts increased with higher contents of uracil groups in poly(AU-co-HAAm)s. Some morphology changes of LB films were also observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) after the molecular recognition.