The present invention is directed to methods for immobilizing natural or synthetic
biomolecules to surfaces. The methods comprise covalently linking the natural or
synthetic biomolecule to a mono- or bi-functional polymer and covalently and/or
electrostatically immobilizing the biomolecule/polymer conjugate to an unmodified
or modified surface. The biomolecule is an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a
protein, a glycoprotein, a peptide or a carbohydrate that has been modified to
incorporate a single or plurality of nucleophilic groups. These groups comprise
an aliphatic or aromatic amino, thiol, hydrazine, thiosemicarbazide, hydrazide,
thiocarbazide, carbazide, aminooxy, a derivative of 2-hydrazinopyridine or aminoxyacetic
acid or a single or plurality of electrophilic groups. The electrophilic groups
comprise an aliphatic or aromatic aldehyde, ketone, epoxide, isocyanate, isothiocyanate,
succinimidyl ester or cyanuric chloride or a linkable aromatic aldehyde or ketone.
The surface has been modified to possess either neutral, cationic or anionic groups
or a combination neutral, anionic and/or cationic moieties.
