Surface adsorbing polymers and the uses thereof to treat hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces

Abstract

The invention provides methods for the treatment of surfaces using surface adsorbing polymers, methods for decreasing the adsorption of organic materials onto the surface of treated devices or vessels, methods for performing fluid operations involving the treatment of surfaces, and apparatus and systems comprising the treated surfaces. Further, the present invention provides a method for treating the surface of microfluidics channel wherein the microfluidics surface is coated for deactivation and wherein this coating can be easily regenerated. The present invention also provides a method for treating the surface of a plastic device. The surface adsorbing polymers of the invention are particularly stable at temperatures and conditions required for biochemical reactions, especially in applications involving temperature cycling or polymerization of polynucleotides or polypeptides.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A reaction mixture comprising a surface adsorbing polymer in a buffered solution, wherein: 
 a) the quantity of said surface adsorbing polymer of said reaction mixture reduces adsorption of an organic material to a surface;    b) said surface adsorbing polymer binds non-covalently to said surface;    c) said surface adsorbing polymer is not one of the reactants of said fluid operation or is added in excess of the amount normally added to said reaction mixture; and    d) said surface adsorbing polymer does not inhibit the fluid operation.    
     
     
         2 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 1 , wherein said reaction mixture is for use in a fluid operation selected from the group consisting of a mixing step, an incubation, a dilution, a titration, a detection, a drug screening assay, a binding assay, a measuring assay and a biochemical reaction.  
     
     
         3 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 2 , wherein said reaction mixture is selected from the group consisting of a Polymerase Chain Reaction mixture, a Ligase Chain Reaction mixture, a primer extension reaction mixture, a genotyping reaction mixture and a microsequencing mixture.  
     
     
         4 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 5×10 4  daltons.  
     
     
         5 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 2 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 5×10 4  daltons.  
     
     
         6 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 3 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 5×10 4  daltons.  
     
     
         7 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 4 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1×1 daltons.  
     
     
         8 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 5 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1×10 6  daltons.  
     
     
         9 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 6 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1×10 6  daltons.  
     
     
         10 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , or  9 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides, N-isopropylacrylamides, polydimethylacrylamides, propylene glycols, ethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, propylene oxides, ethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides and polyethylene oxides, polydimethylsiloxanes and polyvinylpyrolidones.  
     
     
         11 . The reaction mixture according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , or  9 , wherein said surface adsorbing polymer is a block-copolymer comprising two or more polymers selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides, N-isopropylacrylamides, polydimethylacrylamides, propylene glycols, ethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, propylene oxides, ethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides and polyethylene oxides, polydimethylsiloxanes and polyvinylpyrolidones.