WARF: P04163US
Plasma-Enhanced Functionalization of Inorganic Oxide Surfaces

INVENTORS

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Ferencz Denes, Sorin Manolache, Jason Helgren, Max Lagally, Bradley Larson

Bioactive surfaces created by binding biomolecules to the surface of inorganic substrates are used in many bioassays, biosensors, and other devices. One common approach to functionalizing surfaces so they can bind biomolecules is to use wet chemical techniques; however, these methods are time-consuming, multi-step processes involving the use of expensive and hazardous reagents. UW-Madison researchers have developed an efficient, two-step technique for covalently attaching epoxide functionalities to glass, silicon, quartz, and other inorganic surfaces. First, an oxide surface is exposed to a cold plasma to create hydroxyl functionalities on the surface. Next, these hydroxyl groups are reacted with epoxy group-containing molecules in the absence of plasma to form surface-bound spacer chains. Biomolecules can then be immobilized on the resulting functionalized surface by reacting the biomolecules with the spacer chains.

• Functionalizing a variety of oxide surfaces, including glass, quartz, silica and metal oxides
• Surfaces then can be used in a variety of applications, including biochips and biosensors, such as flexible, thin-film biosensors that may be integrated into traditional microelectronics

• Simple and easy
• Can be performed at atmospheric pressure
• Faster than wet chemistry methods – method takes 20-30 minutes versus 24-72 hours
• Safer than wet chemistry techniques – few chemicals to use and dispose of
• Less costly than wet chemistry methods
• Requires only small quantities of starting materials
• Surfaces exhibit less non-specific binding than those created with wet chemistry techniques
• Results in higher density of bound biomolecules than conventional wet chemistry techniques
• Biomolecules bound to substrates through spacer chains exhibit freedom of movement and conformation comparable to those of free biomolecules, resulting in greater activity than biomolecules bound directly to a substrate

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