Polymer Surface Treatment Agent for Inorganic Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface treatment agents for inorganic materials are ineffective in suppressing non-specific adsorption and may lead to biological contamination, particularly on glass surfaces used in clinical and diagnostic applications.

Innovation Solution

A surface treatment agent comprising a polymer with specific cationic and (poly)oxyalkylene groups is applied to inorganic surfaces, providing excellent non-specific adsorption suppression and peel resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If biological substances such as albumin, casein, or gelatin are used to treat the surface of solid phases, containers, or tools, then non-specific adsorption is suppressed, but the effect is insufficient for inorganic material surfaces and biological contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-specific adsorptionVSAvoidbiological contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the surface treatment agent from biological substances to a synthetic polymer with specific functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, or amino groups). This parameter change maintains the ability to suppress non-specific adsorption while eliminating biological contamination risks associated with using biological substances like albumin, casein, or gelatin on inorganic surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive and potentially contaminating biological substances with a cost-effective synthetic polymer coating that can be easily applied and provides durable protection without biological contamination risks, effectively creating a safe, reusable surface treatment solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional surface treatment agents are used on inorganic surfaces, then application is simple, but peel resistance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface treatment applicationVSAvoidpeel resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite surface treatment system where the polymer coating combines multiple functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, and/or amino groups) within a single molecular structure. This composite approach enables both easy application to inorganic surfaces and strong adhesion, achieving excellent peel resistance that conventional single-function treatment agents cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If polymer coatings are applied to inorganic surfaces, then non-specific adsorption is suppressed, but adhesion and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-specific adsorption suppressionVSAvoidadhesion and durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by distributing different functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, and/or amino groups) throughout the polymer coating structure, where each group contributes specific properties: carboxyl groups enhance adhesion to inorganic surfaces, while hydroxyl and amino groups provide steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion to suppress non-specific adsorption. This local functional distribution achieves both suppression of non-specific adsorption and maintenance of strong adhesion and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The polymer effectively reduces non-specific adsorption on inorganic surfaces, maintaining sensitivity and preventing biological contamination, while ensuring excellent peel resistance and low cytotoxicity.

Implementation Method 1

a polymer having a repeating unit including a specific cationic group in a side chain thereof and a repeating unit including a specific (poly)oxyalkylene group in a side chain thereof has an excellent effect for suppressing non-specific adsorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

biomolecules or cells such as protein, lipid, and nucleic acids in a blood serum, or a protein, a luminescent substrate, or a light absorbing substance in a measurement reagent or the like is non-specifically adsorbed to a solid phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS10597540B2Surface treatment agent for surface configured from inorganic material, tool and device having modified surface, and method for manufacturing tool and device

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 JSR CORPORATION

AI summary

A surface treatment method for treating a surface formed of an inorganic material by using a polymer is provided. The polymer contains a repeating unit (A) having a cationic group with a particular structure in a side chain thereof and a repeating unit (B) having a group of a particular structure in a side chain thereof. Also provided are a tool and a device having a modified surface, and a method for producing the tool and the device.