Biopolymer-resistant coatings, methods and articles related thereto

Abstract

The present invention relates to new biopolymer resistant coatings for materials that come in contact with such molecules in solution. Additionally, the present invention discloses a process for the fabrication of these coatings, under mild and scaleable reaction conditions, from simple, low molecular weight molecular components. Furthermore, the present invention teaches a general conceptual strategy for the design of additional protein resistant coatings.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of rendering a surface of an object resistant to the adhesion of a biopolymer, comprising the step of: treating a surface of an object with a solution comprising a molecule that adheres to said surface, thereby rendering said surface resistant to the adhesion of a biopolymer.  
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said surface is designed to contact an aqueous solution comprising a biopolymer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein said aqueous solution comprises a protein.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein said aqueous solution is blood.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said surface is designed to contact a biological fluid.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said object is designed to be implanted in the body of a mammal.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6   , wherein said object is designed to be implanted in the body of a primate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7   , wherein said object is designed to be implanted in the body of a human.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 1   ,    2   ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 , or  8 , wherein said molecule comprises a Z moiety, wherein Z is selected from the group consisting —CO 2 H, —PO 3 H 2 , —C(O)NHOH, —Si(OR) 3 , —SiCl 3 , —Sn(OR) 3 , —SnCl 3 , —Ge(OR) 3 , and —GeCl 3 .  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein said Z moiety adheres to said surface.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein Z is —Si(halide) 3 , —Si(alkoxyl) 3  or —Si(acyloxy) 3 .  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein said molecule comprises a biopolymer-resistant domain.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12   , wherein said biopolymer-resistant domain is an oligoether, oligoglycol, oligoalcohol, oligocarbonyl, oligosulfide, oligosulfone or oligosaccharide domain.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein said molecule comprises a W moiety, wherein W is H, a small alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a sulfone, a hydroxyl group, a sulfhydryl group, or a thioalkyl group.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , comprising the further step of: treating said biopolymer-resistant surface of the object with a solution comprising a second molecule, wherein said second molecule adheres to said biopolymer-resistant surface of the object.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein said second molecule adheres to said biopolymer-resistant surface of the object via a coulombic interaction, a hydrophobic interaction, the formation of a covalent bond, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein the presence of the second molecule on said biopolymer-resistant surface of the object modifies the biopolymer resistance of said surface.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17   , wherein the presence of the second molecule on said biopolymer-resistant surface of the object enhances the biopolymer resistance of said surface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said molecule is represented by general structure 1:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 Z represents a domain, moiety, or functional group which associates with the surface of the object;  
 tether represents a covalent attachment between Z and the biopolymer-resistant domain;  
 biopolymer-resistant domain represents a molecular substructure to which biopolymers in solution do not adhere well; and  
 W represents H, a small alkyl group, or a small hydrophilic group.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein: 
 Z represents a functional group which associates with the surface of the object selected from the set comprising —CO 2 H, —PO 3 H 2 , —C(O)NHOH, —Si(OR) 3 , —SiCl 3 , —Sn(OR) 3 , —SnCl 3 , —Ge(OR) 3 , and —GeCl 3 ;    tether represents a hydrophobic covalent attachment, of approximately 5 to 20 bonds in length, between Z and the biopolymer-resistant domain;    biopolymer-resistant domain represents a molecular substructure selected from the set consisting of oligoethers, oligoglycols, oligoalcohols, oligocarbonyls, oligosulfides, oligosulfones, and oligosaccharides; and    W represents H, a small alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an acyl group, an acyloxy group, a sulfone, a hydroxyl group, a sulfhydryl group, or a thioalkyl group.    
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 20   , wherein: 
 Z represents —Si(OR) 3 , —SiCl 3 , —Sn(OR) 3,  —SnCl 3 , —Ge(OR) 3 , or —GeCl 3 .    
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 21   , wherein Z represents —Si(OR) 3  or —SiCl 3 .  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said surface of said object comprises SiO 2 .