LIGAND-FUNCTIONALIZED SUBSTRATES WITH ENHANCED BINDING CAPACITY

1 .- 23 . (canceled)

24 . A method of preparing a crosslinked, porous particle, the method comprising:

forming an aqueous phase monomer mixture comprising:

(a) a crosslinking monomer; and

(b) at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to said monovalent groups so as to link at least one said ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one said ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms;

suspending the aqueous phase monomer mixture in a non-polar solvent; and

polymerizing the monomer mixture to form particles comprising the ligand functional group.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a third comonomer.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a porogen.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a porogen.

28 . A method of preparing a crosslinked, porous particle, said method comprising:

forming an aqueous phase monomer mixture comprising:

(a) a crosslinking monomer; and

(b) a monomer of Formula I

CH 2 ═CR 1 —C(═O)—X—R 2 —[Z—R 2 ] n -L  (I)

wherein

R 1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and combinations thereof;

each R 2 is independently selected from hydrocarbylene, heterohydrocarbylene, and combinations thereof;

X is —O— or —NR 3 —, where R 3 is selected from hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, and combinations thereof;

Z is heterohydrocarbylene comprising at least one hydrogen bond donor, at least one hydrogen bond acceptor, or a combination thereof;

n is an integer of 0 or 1; and

L is a heteroatom-containing group comprising at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof;

suspending the aqueous phase monomer mixture in a non-polar solvent; and

polymerizing the monomer mixture to form particles comprising the ligand functional group.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a third comonomer.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a porogen.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the aqueous phase monomer mixture further comprises a porogen.

32 . A method of preparing a substrate bearing a crosslinked coating, the method comprising:

forming an aqueous phase monomer mixture comprising:

(a) a crosslinking monomer; and

(b) at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to said monovalent groups so as to link at least one said ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one said ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms;

providing a porous substrate;

coating the aqueous phase monomer mixture on the substrate; and

polymerizing the monomer mixture to form a coating on the substrate comprising the ligand functional group.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the porous substrate is selected from the group consisting of porous particles, porous membranes, porous nonwoven webs, porous woven webs, porous sponges, porous fibers, and combinations thereof.