Surface-modified base matrices
View Patent ↗The present invention is a surface-modified base matrix comprised of a porous polymeric base matrix onto which branched hydrophilic polyhydroxy-functional polymers have been covalently attached, wherein the polyhydroxy-functional polymers are hyperbranched polymers presenting a degree of branching (DB) of at least about 0.2 and each polymer is tethered to the base matrix at two or more points. The present matrix can for example be a cross-linked carbohydrate material, such as agarose, and the hyperbranched hydrophilic polymer can e.g. be a copolymer of epichiorohydrin and a sugar. The invention also relates to a method of surface-modification of a porous base matrix by activating functional hydroxy groups thereon and contacting the activated matrix with a hydrophilic hyperbranched hydroxy-functional polymer.
1. A surface-modified base matrix, comprising a porous polymeric base matrix onto which branched hydrophilic polyhydroxy-functional polymers have been covalently attached, wherein the branched polyhydroxy-functional polymers have a degree of branching (DB) of at least 0.2 and further wherein each branched polyhydroxy-functional polymer has been attached covalently to the base matrix at two or more points.
2. The matrix of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric base matrix present a hydrophilic polyhydroxy-functional pore surface.
3. The matrix of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric base matrix includes a cross-linked carbohydrate material.
4. The matrix of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric base matrix is comprised of one or more synthetic polymers.
5. The matrix of claim 1 , wherein the degree of branching of the branched polyhydroxy-functional polymers is at least about 0.4.
6. The matrix of claim 1 , wherein the branched hydrophilic polymer is a copolymer comprising a polyhydroxy-functional monomer cross-linked with an epoxide.
7. The matrix of claim 6 , wherein the epoxide is epichlorohydrin.
8. The matrix of claim 6 , wherein the polyhydroxy-functional monomer is a polyol.
9. The matrix of claim 8 , wherein the polyol is a sugar or a sugar alcohol.
10. The matrix of claim 9 , wherein the polyhydroxy-functional monomer is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.
11. The matrix of claim 10 , wherein the polyhydroxy-functional monomer is sucrose.
12. The matrix of claim 1 , which has been derivatised into a chromatographic matrix by attachment of functional groups to one or more of the hydroxy groups of the branched polyhydroxy-functional polymer.
13. The matrix of claim 12 , which is an ion-exchanger, and wherein said functional groups are charged groups adapted to binding substances having an opposite charge.
14. The matrix of claim 13 , which has been derivatised into a cation-exchanger by attachment of sulfopropyl groups to one or more of the hydroxy groups of the branched polyhydroxy-functional polymer.
15. The matrix of claim 13 , which has been derivatised into an anion-exchanger by attachment of quatemary amino groups to one or more of the hydroxy groups of the branched polyhydroxy-functional polymer.
16. The matrix of claim 12 , wherein said functional groups are selected from the group consisting of affinity groups, hydrophobic groups and metal chelating groups.