Chemical Modification of Surfaces Utilizing Non-Covalent Interactions

摘要

We have described a general process for modifying the physical and chemical properties of polymer surfaces under ambient, aqueous conditions. The method uses solvent imprinting in aromatic polymers to create nanocavities capable of binding a secondary material containing a reactive ligand. Binding is mitigated solely through noncovalent interactions. Spatial control of the adsorbate entrapment is shown using a variety of exposure tools to either selectively inhibit entrapment, control the initial placement of adsorbate, or selectively remove adsorbate from a pretreated film. Bound adsorbate is sufficiently reactive to permit the additive deposition of metal or the binding of a fluorescent dye. The technique can obviously be extended to the deposition and binding of other types of materials including biological species, chromophores, and optically active agents. Furthermore the use of noncovalently bound ligands affords the opportunity to modulate the strength of the interaction through proper choice of the adsorbate.