Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces

Abstract Biosensors have become integrated into our lives. Current technology requires biosensors not only to have high sensitivity but also to have high specificity for one target, while repelling all other molecules and materials in the biological medium. These goals are met by surfaces that combi...

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Main Authors: Erik J. Postma, Luc Scheres, Sissi deBeer, Andriy R. Kuzmyn, Han Zuilhof
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Materials Interfaces
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400955
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author Erik J. Postma
Luc Scheres
Sissi deBeer
Andriy R. Kuzmyn
Han Zuilhof
author_facet Erik J. Postma
Luc Scheres
Sissi deBeer
Andriy R. Kuzmyn
Han Zuilhof
author_sort Erik J. Postma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Biosensors have become integrated into our lives. Current technology requires biosensors not only to have high sensitivity but also to have high specificity for one target, while repelling all other molecules and materials in the biological medium. These goals are met by surfaces that combine a biorecognition element and a high‐quality antifouling layer. In this review, we largely focus on polymer brushes that are grafted from the surface, as these are known to exhibit excellent antifouling properties. We also discuss how to functionalize these with biorecognition elements. Based on the current research on antifouling brushes, we recommend using poly(2‐hydroxypropylmethacrylamide) (HPMAA) and/or poly(carboxybetainemethacrylamide) (CBMAA) brushes, with a thickness between 20–30 nm. Furthermore, we note the importance of high polymer chain densities in such brushes and highlight that a proper comparison requires, among others, similar pre‐treatments. These antifouling brushes are biospecific after receptors are integrated with efficient coupling strategies. Here the opportunities and limitations of frequently used approaches of antifouling polymer brushes within biosensors are highlighted. Also, with the resulting combination of high specificity and low (bio‐)chemical noise levels, we envision an increase in the incorporation of novel polymer brushes for the development of stable biospecific sensors.
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spelling doaj-art-89510c8285bd4fb6a1fde338ebf005e02025-08-20T03:31:40ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Materials Interfaces2196-73502025-07-011214n/an/a10.1002/admi.202400955Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific SurfacesErik J. Postma0Luc Scheres1Sissi deBeer2Andriy R. Kuzmyn3Han Zuilhof4Department of Molecules & Materials MESA+ Institute University of Twente Enschede 7500AE The NetherlandsSurfix BV Agro Business Park 2 Wageningen 6708 PW The NetherlandsDepartment of Molecules & Materials MESA+ Institute University of Twente Enschede 7500AE The NetherlandsDepartment of Molecules & Materials MESA+ Institute University of Twente Enschede 7500AE The NetherlandsLaboratory of Organic Chemistry Wageningen University Stippeneng 4 Wageningen 6708 WE The NetherlandsAbstract Biosensors have become integrated into our lives. Current technology requires biosensors not only to have high sensitivity but also to have high specificity for one target, while repelling all other molecules and materials in the biological medium. These goals are met by surfaces that combine a biorecognition element and a high‐quality antifouling layer. In this review, we largely focus on polymer brushes that are grafted from the surface, as these are known to exhibit excellent antifouling properties. We also discuss how to functionalize these with biorecognition elements. Based on the current research on antifouling brushes, we recommend using poly(2‐hydroxypropylmethacrylamide) (HPMAA) and/or poly(carboxybetainemethacrylamide) (CBMAA) brushes, with a thickness between 20–30 nm. Furthermore, we note the importance of high polymer chain densities in such brushes and highlight that a proper comparison requires, among others, similar pre‐treatments. These antifouling brushes are biospecific after receptors are integrated with efficient coupling strategies. Here the opportunities and limitations of frequently used approaches of antifouling polymer brushes within biosensors are highlighted. Also, with the resulting combination of high specificity and low (bio‐)chemical noise levels, we envision an increase in the incorporation of novel polymer brushes for the development of stable biospecific sensors.https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400955antifoulingbiofunctionalizationbiosensorsbiospecific surfacesfoulingpolymer brushes
spellingShingle Erik J. Postma
Luc Scheres
Sissi deBeer
Andriy R. Kuzmyn
Han Zuilhof
Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
Advanced Materials Interfaces
antifouling
biofunctionalization
biosensors
biospecific surfaces
fouling
polymer brushes
title Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
title_full Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
title_fullStr Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
title_short Functionalized Antifouling Polymer Brushes for Biospecific Surfaces
title_sort functionalized antifouling polymer brushes for biospecific surfaces
topic antifouling
biofunctionalization
biosensors
biospecific surfaces
fouling
polymer brushes
url https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400955
work_keys_str_mv AT erikjpostma functionalizedantifoulingpolymerbrushesforbiospecificsurfaces
AT lucscheres functionalizedantifoulingpolymerbrushesforbiospecificsurfaces
AT sissidebeer functionalizedantifoulingpolymerbrushesforbiospecificsurfaces
AT andriyrkuzmyn functionalizedantifoulingpolymerbrushesforbiospecificsurfaces
AT hanzuilhof functionalizedantifoulingpolymerbrushesforbiospecificsurfaces