This phosphate containing alkanthiol generates a highly hydrophilic surface. Phosphates are present at the surface of phosphorylated proteins, in nucleic acids, and in cell membranes. Often phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of proteins is a key factor in the protein conformation determination. More specifically in skeletal tissue, interactions between extracellular matrices and the mineral phase (calcium hydroxyapatite) are thought to be mediated by phosphate groups. These interactions are considered to be important in both initiating and modulating skeletal crystal growth (M. Tanahashi; T. Matsuda; J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 1997, 34, 305).

In addition, similar compounds have been used to form a monolayer on titania particles to obtain a monolayer with thiol functionalities at the surface (S Anthérieu et al., Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials—2004, edited by Clément Sanchez, Ulrich Schubert, Richard M. Laine, and Yoshiki Chujo [Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 847, Warrendale, PA , 2005], EE13.29).