Functional Binary Micropattern of Hyperbranched Poly(ether amine) (hPEA-AN) Network and Poly(ether amine) (PEA) Brush for Recognition of Guest Molecules

Abstract

A binary micropattern of anthracene-contained hyperbranched poly(ether amine) (hPEA-AN) network and poly(ether amine) (PEA) brush on gold surface was developed and explored. First, a micropatterned hPEA-AN network array on gold surface was fabricated by photolithography via photodimerization of anthracene moieties, and a PEA brush was subsequently immobilized on the remaining free gold surface areas by chemical adsorption of thiol groups. The patterned hPEA-AN network exhibits selectivity with respect to the adsorption of hydrophilic dyes: Methyl orange is strongly adsorbed, but rhodamine 6G is not, as indicated by the fluorescence response. The PEA brush domain exhibits excellent protein adsorption repellency, whereas the hPEA-AN network layer readily adsorbs protein. These characteristics make the binary hPEA-AN network and PEA brush array sensitive to different kinds of dyes and proteins, which open up pathways to potential applications as microsensors, biochips, and bioassays.