Surface-independent, surface-modifying, multifunctional coatings and applications thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a surface-independent surface-modifying multifunctional biocoating and methods of application thereof. The method comprises contacting at least a portion of a substrate with an alkaline solution comprising a surface-modifying agent (SMA) such as dopamine so as to modify the substrate surface to include at least one reactive moiety. In another version of the invention, a secondary reactive moiety is applied to the SMA-treated substrate to yield a surface-modified substrate having a specific functionality.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing amounts of metal in a fluid comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting at least a portion of a substrate with an alkaline, aqueous solution under oxidative conditions, the solution comprising a surface-modifying agent according to Formula I:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is independently selected from the group consisting of a thiol, a primary amine, a secondary amine, a nitrile, an aldehyde, an imidazole, an azide, a halide, a polyhexamethylene dithiocarbonate, a hydrogen, a hydroxyl, a carboxylic acid, an aldehyde, a carboxylic ester or a carboxamide, provided at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is not a hydrogen atom; 
         wherein x ranges from 0 to 10 and wherein y ranges from 0 to 10, provided that x or y is at least 1; and 
         b) contacting the surface-modified substrate with a reactive moiety, wherein the reactive moiety reacts with and is bound to the modified surface 
         c) positioning the surface-modified substrate with a reactive moiety found to the modified surface in a fluid with metal, 
         whereby the modified substrate binds to at least a portion of the metal, thereby reducing the amounts of metal in the fluid. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reactive moiety is a metal. 
     
     
         3 . A method of modifying a substrate to form a biofouling-resistant, modified substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting at least a portion of the surface of the substrate with an alkaline solution under oxidative conditions, the solution comprising a surface-modifying agent according to Formula I:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is independently selected from the group consisting of a thiol, a primary amine, a secondary amine, a nitrile, an aldehyde, an imidazole, an azide, a halide, a polyhexamethylene dithiocarbonate, a hydrogen, hydroxyl, a carboxylic acid, an aldehyde, a carboxylic ester or a carboxamide, provided at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is not a hydrogen atom; 
           wherein x ranges from 0 to 10 and wherein y ranges from 0 to 10, provided that x or y is at least 1; and 
         
         b) contacting at least a portion of the surface-modified substrate with a biofouling-resistant reactive moiety, 
         wherein a biofouling-resistant, surface-modified substrate is formed. 
       
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the biofouling-resistant reactive moiety is selected from the group consisting of thiols, primary amines, secondary amines, nitriles, aldehydes, imidazoles, azides, halides, polyhexamethylene dithiocarbonate, hydrogen, hydroxyls, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, carboxylic esters or a carboxamides. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the modified substrate is part of a medical device. 
     
     
         6 . A kit for modifying a substrate surface, the kit comprising:
 a) a surface-modifying agent according to Formula I:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is independently selected from the group consisting of a thiol, a primary amine, a secondary amine, a nitrile, an aldehyde, an imidazole, an azide, a halide, a polyhexamethylene dithiocarbonate, a hydrogen, a hydroxyl, a carboxylic acid, an aldehyde, a carboxylic ester or a carboxamide, provided at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  is not a hydrogen atom; 
         wherein x ranges from 0 to 10 and wherein y ranges from 0 to 10, provided that x or y is at least 1; and 
         b) instructions for use. 
       
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6  further comprising a reactive moiety selected from the group consisting of thiols, primary amines, secondary amines, nitriles, aldehydes, imidazoles, azides, halides, polyhexamethylene dithiocarbonate, hydrogen, hydroxyls, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, carboxylic esters or carboxamides. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6  further comprising a substrate surface to be modified. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the surface-modifying agent is in solution. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the surface-modifying agent is in powdered form.