Surface preparation amino adhesives

A potentially important development for the future of biomimetic research was published recently. Using a procedure developed by Whitesides, nucleophiles micropattemed on a gold surface were used as initiators to prepare poly(Y-benzyl-L-glutamate). Thus, an array of poly(amino acid) layers covalently attached to the surface was obtained. These would potentially act as mediators of biomimetic reactions. German workers have described the production of protein-DNA double and triple layers adsorbed on smfaces. Adhesion between layers was provided by biotin-streptavadin interactions and binding was detected by a quartz crystal microbalance. These studies may have some relevance to the understanding of protein DNA interactions at interfaces in biological systems. 

Chitosan and its amino acid derivatives (poly D, L-lactic acid) have been explored as an extracellular matrix-like surface to promote cell adhesion and growth [229]. Four kinds of chitosan-amino acid derivatives were prepared to minimize the carbohydrate moieties of cell matrix glycoproteins. 

Recently, a well-defined model system was used to investigate the influence of immobilized subtilisin A, a serine protease, on the adhesion of major marine foulers [125-127]. The model system was based on reactive maleic anhydride copolymers covalently attached as nanometer-thick films to amino-functionaUzed surfaces (Fig. 6.33) [129]. These copolymer films are a versatile platform for biosurface engineering as the physicochemical profile of the films can be tuned by the choice of the comonomer, molecular weight, and preparation... 

---