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Abstract

Multifunctional, polyionic copolymers with molecular architectures and properties optimized for specific applications are synthesized on/or applied to substrate surfaces for analytical and sensing purposes. The coatings are particularly useful for suppression of non-specific interaction, adsorption or attachment of molecular or ionic components present in an analyte solution. Chemical, biochemical or biological groups that are able to recognize, interact with and bind specifically to target molecules in the material containing the analyte to be detected can be coupled to, integrated into, or absorbed to the multifunctional copolymers. These multifunctional copolymer coatings are compatible with a variety of different established methods to detect, sense and quantify the target molecule in an analyte. The multifunctional copolymer coatings typically include brush copolymers based on a polycationic or polyanionic (jointly referred to herein as `polyionic`) backbone with side chains that control interaction with the environment, such as poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(ethylene oxide)-based side chains that decrease cellular adhesion, and analyte-specific side chains. They can be used to pattern the surfaces into non-adhesive and specifically adhesive areas by applications of known techniques such as microfluidic or contact printing techniques.

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