Detection assay devices and methods of making and using the same

1. A biomolecular detector, comprising:

(a) a substrate having a surface portion;

(b) a linking layer on said surface portion;

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

said brush molecule comprising a stem formed from the polymerization of said monomer core groups, and a plurality of branches formed from said head group projecting from said stem; and

(d) a first member of a specific binding pair directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer; wherein said first member is bonded to said polymer layer at a density of from 1 milligram per meter 2 to 50 grams per meter 2 .

2. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said first member is a protein, peptide, or nucleic acid.

3. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said first member is an antibody.

4. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said surface portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, semiconductors, polymers, silicon, silicon dioxide, and composites thereof.

5. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said surface portion comprises silicon dioxide or gold.

6. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said linking layer is continuous.

7. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said linking layer is patterned.

8. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said linking layer comprises a silane layer or a self-assembled monolayer.

9. The detector of claim 1 , wherein said brush molecule is from 5 to 200 nanometers in length.

10. The detector of claim 1 , said brush molecule formed on said surface portion at a density from 10 to 500 milligrams per meter 2 .

11. The biomolecular detector of claim 1 , wherein: said first member of said specific binding pair is directly non-covalently bound to said polymer at a discrete probe location, said biomolecular detector further comprising:

(e) a plurality of additional first members of a specific binding pairs directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer at a plurality of additional discrete probe locations to thereby form an array thereon.

12. The biomolecular detector of claim 11 , wherein said array has a density of 5 to 10,000 discrete probe locations per cm 2 thereon.

13. The biomolecular detector of claim 11 , wherein said array has a density of 10,000 to 1 million discrete probe locations per cm 2 thereon.

14. The biomolecular detector of claim 11 , wherein said array has a density of 1 million to 1 billion discrete probe locations per cm 2 thereon.

15. The detector of claim 1 sealed in macroscopically dry form in a container.

16. A biomolecular detector, comprising:

(a) a substrate having a surface portion;

(b) a linking layer on said surface portion, wherein said linking layer is patterned;

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

said brush molecule comprising a stem formed from the polymerization of said monomer core groups, and a plurality of branches formed from said head group projecting from said stem;

(d) an antibody directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer; and

(e) a plurality of additional antibodies directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer at a plurality of additional discrete probe locations to thereby form an array thereon; wherein said array has a density of 10,000 to 1 million discrete probe locations per cm 2 thereon.

17. The detector of claim 16 sealed in macroscopically dry form in a container.

18. The detector of claim 1 having a limit-of-detection of 100 fg/mL to 10 ng/mL in either serum or buffer.

19. The detector of claim 16 having a limit-of-detection of 100 fg/mL to 10 ng/mL in either serum or buffer.

20. A biomolecular detector, comprising:

(a) a substrate having a surface portion;

(b) a linking layer on said surface portion, wherein said linking layer is patterned;

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

said brush molecule comprising a stem formed from the polymerization of said monomer core groups, and a plurality of branches formed from said head group projecting from said stem;

(d) an antibody directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer; and

(e) a plurality of additional antibodies directly non-covalently bound to said polymer layer at a plurality of additional discrete probe locations to thereby form an array thereon; wherein said array has a density of 10,000 to 1 million discrete probe locations per cm 2 thereon; and wherein the detector is sealed in macroscopically dry form in a container with a shelf life of at least 2 to 4 months when stored at a temperature of 25° C.

21. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the first member of a specific binding pair absorbs into said polymer layer.

22. The detector of claim 16 , wherein the antibody absorbs into said polymer layer.

23. The detector of claim 1 , wherein the first member of a specific binding pair is printed onto said polymer layer.

24. The detector of claim 16 , wherein the antibody is printed onto said polymer layer.