Preparation of crosslinked matrices containing covalently immobilized

Abstract

A chemical specie is immobilized in a three dimensional, crosslinked matrix by bringing together in covalent bonding proximity a desired chemical specie and a polymeric coupling compound such as a photoderivatized polymer having at least two latent photochemical reactive groups per molecule, each latent reactive group being capable when activated of covalently bonding to another coupling compound molecule or to the chemical specie. The chemical specie may be a protein, carbohydrate, nucleic acid or lipid, and desirably is free of latent reactive groups that are activated upon activation of the latent reactive groups of the coupling compound. The latent reactive groups are simultaneously activated to cause formation via covalent bonding of a three-dimensional molecular network in which molecules of the chemical specie are covalently bonded to molecules of the coupling compound, and molecules of the coupling compound are covalently bonded to each other. The matrix containing the covalently bonded chemical specie may be contacted with a different chemical specie under conditions to incorporate the specie into the matrix in unbound form so that it can be gradually released from the matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the covelently bonded chemical specis is an antithrombic agent and the inbound chemical specil is an antibiotic. Preferably, the three dimensional matrix is formed as a coating upon a surface to which covalent bonds are formed upon activation of the latent reactive groups of the coupling compound.