“CHicable” and “Clickable” Copolymers for Network Formation and Surface Modification

In this study, we present the generation of novel, multifunctional polymer networks through a combination of C,H-insertion cross-linking (CHic) and click chemistry. To this, copolymers consisting of hydrophilic N,N-dimethylacrylamide as matrix component and repeat units containing azide moieties, as well as benzophenone or anthraquinone groups, are generated. The benzophenone or anthraquinone groups allow photo-cross-linking, surface attachment or covalent immobilization of adjacent (bio)­molecules through CHic reactions. The azide moieties either can react with available alkynes through conventional click reactions or can be activated to form nitrenes, which can also undergo CHic reactions. By choosing appropriate reaction conditions, the same polymer can be used to follow very different reaction paths, opening up a plethora of choices for the generation of functional polymer networks. In the exemplary presented case (“CHic–Click”), irradiation of the copolymers with UV-A light (λ_irr = 365 nm) leads to cross-linking (network formation) and surface attachment simultaneously. The azide units remain intact during this cross-linking step, and alkyne-modified (bio)­molecules can be bound through click reactions. Biofunctionalization of the polymer network with alkynylated streptavidin, followed by application of biotin-conjugated antibody and a model analyte, highlights the potential of these surface architectures as a toolbox which can be adapted for diverse bioanalytical applications.