Covalent coupling of polysaccharides to silicon and silicon rubber surfaces

A method to produce a hydrogel by covalently coupling dextran polysaccharide to silicon and silicon rubber surfaces is described. A bifunctional epoxysilane was used as coupling mediator and the conditions for the reaction were optimized. Coupling of the silane to silicon rubber was possible only after oxidation of the surface by plasma etching. The reaction between the epoxy-group and dextran was concentration dependent and required high concentrations of dextran. The turnover rate of fibrinogen in solution at the hydrophilic surface was found to be high when measured by ellipsometry.