Elucidating methodologies to create nanometer scale, chemically homogeneous polymer templates can improve biomedical research and provide a means of ultrasensitive protein detection. Polystyrene-b-poly(vinylpyridine) (PS-b-PVP) is an amphiphilic diblock copolymer that spontaneously self-assembles into orderly nanostructures above its critical micellar concentration. When applied to a substrate, these nanostructures form polymer templates that can serve as solid state protein arrays. Polymer templates of various shapes and sizes were created by spin coating silicon wafers with PS-b-PVP solution then performing solvent vapor annealing in chloroform. A time-lapse morphology change study of the templates using atomic force microscopy revealed that specific polymeric components were exposed on the array surface at different annealing stages. Protein deposition experiments were performed in order to assess the polymer templates' functionality as protein arrays. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of PS-b-PVP nanostructures make these polymer templates highly appropriate protein arrays.

Nanoscale polymeric structures as biotemplates: Towards high-throughput, high density protein sensors

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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