A Cu-free clickable surface with controllable surface density

A Cu-free clickable polymer was synthesized and used to dip-coat plastic substrates to prepare Cu-free clickable surfaces. The surface density of dibenzocyclooctyne moieties was quantified using an azide-conjugated fluorophore and a conventional fluorometer, indicating that the clickable moieties displayed on a dip-coated surface were accessible from solutes in water. The present approach also succeeded in the control of the surface density of the clickable moieties. Azide-conjugated oligo DNA was immobilized on the surface using a Cu-free click reaction. Graphical abstract