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.
