High capacity assay platforms

Abstract

A high capacity assay platform capable of binding target molecules includes a substrate and a polymer matrix attached to the substrate. The polymer matrix comprises a plurality of polymer molecules where at least some of the polymer molecules are covalently attached directly to the substrate and at least some of which molecules are crosslinked to other polymer molecules. Some of the polymer molecules have at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto, and the density of the polymer matrix on the substrate is at least 2 μg/cm 2 .

1 . A polymer composition comprising a plurality of polymer molecules having repeating units, wherein at least some of the polymer molecules have at least one reactive group covalently attached thereto, wherein at least some of the polymer molecules have at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto, wherein the polymer molecules have an average molecular weight of at least 100 kDa, and wherein at least 25% of polymer molecules have at least one reactive group and at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto.  
     
     
         2 . A polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules have an average molecular weight of at least 300 kDa.  
     
     
         3 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein all of the polymer molecules have at least one binding ligand covalently attached thereto and wherein at least some of the polymer molecules have no reactive group covalently attached thereto.  
     
     
         4 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules having reactive groups covalently attached thereto have less than 1 reactive group per 200 repeating units.  
     
     
         5 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules having reactive groups covalently attached thereto have less than 1 reactive group per 600 repeating units.  
     
     
         6 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules having binding ligand covalently attached thereto have from 1 binding ligand per 1 repeating unit to 1 binding ligand per 100 repeating units.  
     
     
         7 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules having binding ligand covalently attached thereto have from 1 binding ligand per 1 repeating unit to 1 binding ligand per 20 repeating units.  
     
     
         8 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the percentage of polymer molecules having both reactive groups and binding ligand covalently attached thereto is from 25% to 80%.  
     
     
         9 . The polymer composition according to  claim 8  wherein the percentage of polymer molecules having both reactive groups and binding ligand covalently attached thereto is from 40% to 75%.  
     
     
         10 . The polymer composition according to  claim 9  wherein the percentage of polymer molecules having both reactive groups and binding ligand covalently attached thereto is from 50% to 60%.  
     
     
         11 . The polymer composition according to  claim 10  wherein the percentage of polymer molecules having both reactive groups and binding ligand covalently attached thereto is approximately 50%.  
     
     
         12 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are natural polymers.  
     
     
         13 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are dextran polymers.  
     
     
         14 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer molecules are synthetic polymers.  
     
     
         15 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises a metal chelate.  
     
     
         16 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand is capable of binding to a polynucleotide.  
     
     
         17 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises an mRNA.  
     
     
         18 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises a DNA.  
     
     
         19 . The polymer composition according to  claim 1  wherein the binding ligand comprises a polynucleotide.