Polymer brushes for immobilizing molecules to a surface or substrate having improved stability
First Claim
1. A polymer brush for binding a molecule in an aqueous sample in an assay, the brush comprising a substrate surface, a hydrophobic layer comprising hydrophobic polymer chain segments attached to the substrate surface and having a dry thickness of at least about 50 angstroms, and a hydrophilic layer attached to the hydrophobic layer containing functional groups for the attachment of a probe for binding the molecule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sensors for determining the presence and concentration of biomolecules in a biological sample are provided in the form of polymer brushes, which comprise a substrate having a surface modified with a hydrophobic polymer segment, attached to which is a water-dispersible or water-soluble polymer segment having functional groups that bind probes. The method of synthesis of such sensors preferably includes use of controlled free radical polymerization techniques, which allows for controlled architecture polymers to modify the surface of the substrate, and the use of monomers possessing functional groups which do not require activation prior to probe attachment. In this manner functional groups in the polymer chain are removed from the surface, which allows for solution chemistry to be more realistically reproduced with the benefits of a solid bound probe.
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Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A polymer brush for binding a molecule in an aqueous sample in an assay, the brush comprising a substrate surface, a hydrophobic layer comprising hydrophobic polymer chain segments attached to the substrate surface and having a dry thickness of at least about 50 angstroms, and a hydrophilic layer attached to the hydrophobic layer containing functional groups for the attachment of a probe for binding the molecule.
- 21. A polymer brush for binding a molecule in an aqueous sample in an assay, the brush comprising a substrate surface having a polymer layer thereon, said polymer layer comprising a first hydrophobic layer attached to the substrate surface, and a second hydrophilic layer attached to the hydrophobic layer containing groups for the attachment of a probe for binding the molecule, said brush being characterized in that said hydrophobic polymer layer has a minimum thickness such that, upon being immersed in a 10 mmolar sodium hydroxide solution for about 15 minutes, the polymer layer thickness is reduced by less than about 40%.
Specification