Protein-functionalized polymer brushes.

A new strategy for the preparation of protein-functionalized polymer brushes is reported, which is based on a combination of surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), p-nitrophenyl chloroformate activation of the surface hydroxyl groups, and subsequent O(6)-benzylguanine (BG) functionalization. The BG-functionalized brushes are used to chemoselectively immobilize O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (AGT) fusion proteins with a defined orientation and surface density. These protein-modified polymer brushes are attractive candidates for the development of protein microarrays.