Characterization of aldehyde-PEG tethered surfaces: influence of PEG chain length on the specific biorecognition.

A functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) layer possessing a reactive aldehyde group at the free end of the tethered PEG chain was constructed by simple coating on the substrate, using the acetal-PEG/poly(DL-lactide) block copolymer, followed by the hydrolysis of the acetal end group by an acid treatment. The reactivity of the aldehyde group at the distal end of the PEG tethered chain was evaluated via a reductive amination using 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy as the model compound. Further conjugation of the aldehyde group with sugar moieties has demonstrated an increased recognition ability with lectins with an increasing PEG chain length, which was attributable to the mobility of the chain end. These results provide a novel idea for highly sensitive biorecognition, suggesting a method to create highly selective biosensing surfaces that are able to prevent the undesired nonspecific adsorption of biocomponents.