Polymer-coated optical structures

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method of treating the surface of an optical structure which comprises forming on said surface a thin layer of a material which is capable of cross-polymerising on exposure to light and subsequently exposing said material to light whereby polymerisation occurs. Preferably the process includes the subsequent treatment of the polymer layer with a solution of a specific ligand. Complex formation between the bound ligand and its specific binding partner present in a sample to be analysed alters the optical properties of the diffraction grating surface and the change can form the basis of an assay method.