Polymeric surface-mediated, high-density nano-assembly of functional protein arrays

The exploding field of biomedical research and biotechnology demands convenient and reliable solid-state methods for protein detection and underscores the importance of high-density, high-payload protein arrays assembled on two-dimensional platforms. Proteins immobilized on various polymeric surfaces are of particular importance in basic research and biomedical applications as surface-bound proteins on polymers are routinely utilized in numerous biological measurements in laboratory and clinical settings. Specifically, protein nanoarrays can function effectively as low-cost, miniaturized, and small-volume assay platforms. In this paper, top-down and bottom-up approaches to assemble functional protein arrays are discussed in depth, while focusing on the recent contributions from the nanoscience field to protein assembly on polymeric surfaces. Research endeavors to improve the density, uniformity, stability, and biological activity of surface-bound proteins on polymers are outlined. Biosensing applications of such systems and the associated challenges of quantitative and analytical detection are addressed. In addition, the future outlook of the applications of nanoscale polymer-based, solid-phase protein detection is provided.