| abstract |
New variants of electroactive and optoactive polymers are formed from the surface chemical modification and derivization of free-standing and substrate-supported polymer films. The free-standing or substrate-supported films are chemically modified at or near their surfaces to introduce hydrophilic and/or reactive functional groups, such as carboxylic acids, hydroxyls, and amines. Surface derivatization of the modified polymer film is achieved through the specific attachment of bioactive, immunoactive, electroactive, and catalytic agents to the surface of the electroactive or optoactive polymer film. In one embodiment, a polymer selected from polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polyanilane and polythiophene is modified to contain functional groups and an indicator reagent is covalently coupled to the functional groups. When an analyte in a sample reacts with the indicator reagent, electrical conductivity of the polymer is changed and presence of the analyte is indicated by the change in electrical conductivity. |