Optical waveguides for the evanescent wave-induced cleavage of photolabile linker compounds

Functional surfaces and especially the control of surface properties depending on external parameters such as light illumination have gained increasing importance in the last few years. We present the characterization of polymers from the cycloolefin (co)polymer class (COC/COP) functionalized with an aminosilane as a basis for the further immobilization of compounds. In a first step, an assay using AlexaFluor®647 fluorescent dye was used to assess surface homogeneity and reproducibility. A coefficient of variation of less than 15% for dot-to-dot and less than 25% for chip-to-chip could be achieved. The same amino-functionalized surfaces were then used to immobilize a biotinylated photolabile linker compound, binding AlexaFluor®647-labeled streptavidin. The linker was photocleaved with high efficiency at λ = 365 nm and P = 0.15 mW/cm(2). Fluorescence measurements show that polymers of the COC/COP class can be used as versatile surfaces for the photoinduced release of compounds immobilized via photolabile linkers.