Design of Liquid Crystal-based System for Recognition of Biomolecular Interactions at Interfaces

Recognition of interfacial biomolecular phenomena is a significant scientific challenge because of their importance in fundamental works and practical applications. Here, we reveal that sepecific amino acids (glutamic acid (Glu) and aspartic acid (Asp)) exhibit unique interfacial dynamics that undergo adsorption and subsequent desorption processes, driving orientational coupling with liquid crystals (LCs). Combination of our experimental results and computational simulations demonstrate that these interfacial events can be influenced by pH-dependent charge states of the amino acids and their electrostatic interactions with LCs. In addition, the adsorption-desorption dynamics are also governed by other biomolecules such as bacterial byproducts such as lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid, which form complexes with the amino acids (e.g., Glu and Asp) and promotes their coupling with orientation of LCs. Furthermore, to realize full potential of our LC system in practical applications, we provide versatile strategies (e.g., controls of salmonella concentration, structure of surfactant decorated at the LC-aqueuous interface, and LC geometry), leading to extraordinary sensitivity and response time of the LC-based system.