Method for applying a coating to a polymeric substrate

A single-step method for applying a coating to a polymeric substrate comprising:

• exposing a water-soluble photoreactive compound and a polymeric compound dissolved in an aqueous solvent to ultraviolet radiation in the presence of said polymeric substrate to obtain a covalently bound coating thereon comprising a reaction product of the photoreactive compound and the polymeric compound, said water-soluble photoreactive compound comprising a functional moiety capable of reacting with said polymeric compound and a latent functional group capable of covalent bond formation to said substrate in response to said ultraviolet radiation, said water-soluble photoreactive compound existing independently of and unbound to said polymeric compound when dissolved in said aqueous solvent,
• wherein said photoreactive compound is selected from the group consisting of 4-benzoyl benzylamine, 3,4-diaminobenzophenone, 2-benzoyl benzoic acid, 4-benzoyl benzoic acid, 2-aminobenzophenone-2′-carboxylic acid, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, 2-acetylbenzoic acid, 4-acetylbenzoic acid, or an inorganic or organic salt thereof;
• and
• wherein said polymeric compound is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyacrylamide (PAAM), dextran, and a poly(oxazoline) compound as well as esters, amines, acids, succinimidyl-modified acids, maleimides, biotinylated esters, biotinylated amines, biotinylated acids, and biotinylated maleimide derivatives thereof.