DETECTION AND ASSAY DEVICES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

1 - 35 . (canceled)

36 . A method of detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte, the method comprising

(a) contacting the sample suspected of containing the analyte to a biomolecular detector, wherein the biomolecular detector comprises:

(i) a substrate having a surface portion,

(ii) a linking layer on the surface portion,

(iii) a polymer layer formed on the linking layer, wherein the polymer comprises monomeric units, with each of the monomeric units comprising a monomer core group having at least one protein-resistant head group coupled thereto, to thereby form a brush molecule on the surface portion;

wherein the brush molecule comprises a stem formed from the polymerization of the monomer core groups, and a plurality of branches formed from the head group projecting from the stem, and

(iv) a probe directly non-covalently bound to the polymer layer;

(b) incubating the sample on surface portion of the biomolecular detector to permit specific binding between the probe and the analyte, and

(c) detecting the binding of the analyte to the probe, wherein detection of the binding of the analyte to the probe indicates the presence of the analyte in the sample.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the probe is a protein, peptide, or nucleic acid.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the probe is an antibody.

39 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the surface portion of the biomolecular detector comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, semiconductors, polymers, silicon, silicon dioxide, and composites thereof.

40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the surface portion of the biomolecular detector comprises silicon dioxide or gold.

41 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the linking layer of the biomolecular detector is continuous.

42 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the linking layer of the biomolecular detector is patterned.

43 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the linking layer of the biomolecular detector comprises a silane layer or a self-assembled monolayer.

44 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the brush molecule of the biomolecular detector is from 5 to 200 nanometers in length.

45 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the brush molecule of the biomolecular detector occurs on the surface portion of the biomolecular detector at a density from 10 to 500 milligrams per meter 2 .

46 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the probe is bonded to the polymer layer of the biomolecular detector at a density of from 1 milligram per meter 2 to 50 grams per meter 2 .

47 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the analyte is present in the sample at a concentration of from 0.1 to 100 femtomoles per liter.

48 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the detecting comprises an immunoassay.

49 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the sample comprises a biological fluid.

50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the biological fluid comprises blood, blood plasma, serum, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, tear, mucus, lymph fluid, semen, saliva, urine, and lavage fluid from a wound or bodily orifice.