Substrate-mediated transfection on SAMs with backgrounds of EG and COO−. SAMs were formed with alkanethiols containing various terminal functional groups, including OH, CH3, EG and COO−, in backgrounds of 40% EG (A and B) and 60% COO− (C and D). Transfection was assayed for complexes formed at N/P of 10 (A and C) and 25 (B and D) by normalizing luciferase levels to total protein amounts. Values are reported as the mean ± SD (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01).