Detecting compounds with liquid crystals

A method for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample, comprising:

• (a) contacting a device for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample with the sample, wherein the device for detecting the presence of the compound in a sample comprises:
• (i) a substrate comprising a support having a metallized top surface;
• and
• (ii) a self-assembled monolayer comprising a first alkanethiol attached to the metallized top surface of the substrate, the alkanethiol comprising an alkanethiol having a functional group that reversibly or irreversibly interacts with the compound;
• (b) disposing a liquid crystal on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer of the substrate, the liquid crystal having a moiety that interacts with the functional group of the alkanethiol;
• and
• (c) determining whether the orientation of the liquid crystal on the self-assembled monolayer changes after the device contacts the sample.

A kit for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample, comprising:

• (a) a substrate having a support with a metallized top surface;
• (b) an alkanethiol comprising a functional group that reversibly or irreversibly interacts with the compound;
• and
• (c) a liquid crystal having a moiety that interacts with the functional group of the alkanethiol.

A method for manufacturing a device for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample, comprising:

• (a) depositing a metal on a surface of a support to form a support with a metallized surface;
• (b) contacting an alkanethiol with the metallized surface of the support to form a self-assembled monolayer with a bottom surface attached to the metallized top surface of the support and a top surface, wherein the alkanethiol includes a functional group that reversibly or irreversibly interacts with the compound;
• and
• (c) depositing a liquid crystal on the top surface of the self-assembled monolayer, wherein the liquid crystal comprises a moiety that interacts with the functional group of the alkanethiol.

A device for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample, comprising:

• (a) a surface including functional groups, wherein the functional groups are bonded to a metal forming a metal complex;
• and
• (b) a liquid crystal deposited over the surface, the liquid crystal including a moiety that reversibly binds to the metal of the metal complex such that at least a portion of the liquid crystal is bound to the metal complex;
• wherein the metal complex is capable of reversibly or irreversibly binding a portion of the compound to be detected, such that when the compound is present in the sample, the portion of the compound will interact with the metal complex and displace at least some of the liquid crystal that was bound to the metal complex.