A tryptophan responsive fluorescent and wettable dual-signal switch.

A new fluorescent dianthracene calix[4]arene (C4DA) was designed and synthesized via coupling the fluorescent anthracene units and calix[4]arene units. Then it was used to form self-assembled monolayers (C4DA-SAMs) by the simple click reaction to give the first fluorescent and wettable dual-signal switch for tryptophan (Trp) on a micro- and nano-structured silicon surface. The switch for Trp on the C4DA functional surface was confirmed by contact angle (CA) measurements and fluorescent spectroscopy (FL). Furthermore, the wettability-responsive C4DA functional interface can be re-used for six cycles. The responsive switch can potentially be applied in many fields including nanodevices and intelligent microfluidic switching.