Method of analysis of genomic biopolymer and porous materials for genomic analyses

An article useful in analyses of proteinaceous or genomic biopolymers, comprising a porous sheet having at least one surface thereof suitable to receive a biopolymer in a blot analysis, said surface having an initial level of binding capacity for the biopolymer and an initial nonspecific binding level for a chemical probe to be used in an analysis of the biopolymer, said surface having deposited thereon a plasma polymerizate from a gas plasma containing a first monomer therein, said plasma polymerizate having been exposed to a vapor comprising a second monomer in the absence of a glow discharge subsequent to its being deposited on the porous sheet, the plasma polymerizate containing residual free radicals, the second monomer quenching the residual free radicals, causing said surface to exhibit a reduced nonspecific binding level for the chemical probe.

An article useful in genomic analyses comprising a cationically charged, porous, substrate comprising a nylon having a deposit on at least one surface thereof, said deposit comprising a plasma polymerizate containing a plurality of acidic groups, said plasma polymerizate, subsequent to its being deposited on the porous substrate, having been exposed to a vapor comprising a polymerizable monomer in the absence of a glow discharge, a portion of the polymerizable monomer being grafted onto the plasma polymerizate, said surface having an initial level of binding capacity for a polynucleotide target molecule and an initial nonspecific binding level for an oligonucleotide-containing probe to be used in an analysis of the polynucleotide target molecule, said plasma polymerizate causing said surface to exhibit a reduced nonspecific binding level for the oligonucleotide-containing probe.

A method of making an improved porous substrate for genomic analysis comprising modifying at least one surface of a porous substrate by a controlled deposition of a plasma polymerizate upon the surface, said surface of the porous substrate having a first ratio of binding of a biopolymer versus nonspecific binding of a chemical probe for the biopolymer in a blot analysis, the plasma polymerizate causing an increased ratio of binding of the biopolymer versus nonspecific binding of the chemical probe by the thus-modified surface, the controlled deposition of the plasma polymerizate comprising an exposure of the surface of the porous substrate to a gas plasma containing a first monomer at a plasma composite parameter W/FM of less than 1.0.times.10.sup.9 Joules per kilogram for a time less than 30 minutes, said plasma polymerizate after deposition being further exposed to a vapor of a second monomer in the absence of a glow discharge.

A method of analysis of a proteinaceous or genomic biopolymer comprising adhering a biopolymer onto a surface of a porous substrate, then probing the biopolymer with at least one chemical probe for a specific submolecular sequence in the biopolymer, the presence of the specific submolecular sequence being detectable by means of a specific binding of the chemical probe to the specific submolecular sequence in the biopolymer, the surface of the porous substrate having a reduced level of nonspecific binding of the chemical probe by reason of a deposit of a plasma polymerizate on said surface.