Fundamentals and applications of organised molecular films

Abstract

In this Chapter we describe the experimental procedures and main features of solid organised films produced with three techniques: Langmuir-Blodgett (LB), electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Emphasis is placed on possible applications in which molecular control of the film architectures is exploited. In particular, the use of organised films in sensing units for electronic tongues (e-tongues) and biosensors is highlighted not only in terms of the nanotech-based methods but also in connection with computational methods. The latter are employed in sensing and biosensing data analysis, and becoming increasingly important for generating fully-fledged clinical diagnosis systems.With regard to basic science involved in organised films, we discuss the use of Langmuir monolayers in cell membrane models, which is important for drug design and drug delivery systems.