Invention Summary:
Surface functionalization offers a wide array of material properties, including wettability, chemical stability, biocompatibility, catalytic activity, sensing, antifouling, anti-microbial, and cell-affinity. Despite the great interest in controlling these properties, a surface functionalization technology that is simple, robust, and also generalizable has yet to be established.
Rutgers researchers have developed an easy-to-apply, highly versatile drop coating technology for surface functionalization. Proof-of-concept testing has been performed by grafting bioactive molecules onto a variety of 2D and 3D materials (e.g., metals, semiconductors, ceramics, paper, and more). This single-step method enables simultaneous coating and functionalization of surfaces in a site-specific manner.
Market Applications:
- Drop-coating of small molecules, polymers, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins and more
- Functionalization of biosensors for on-chip detection of a wide array of organic, inorganic and enzymatic metabolites and biomarkers associated with human diseases
- Coating of medical implant surfaces for preventing bacterial colonization and biofilm formation
Advantages:
- Simple, robust, and versatile
- Capable of simultaneous coating and functionalization of 2D and 3D surfaces
- Capable of controlled surface patterning and minimization of wasted coating material
- Capable of site-specific and multiplexed grafting
Intellectual Property & Development Status:
Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or collaboration.
