Patent ID: 8394463

Claim:
A method of covalently crosslinking a first substrate with a second substrate comprising combining a matrix coated with the first and second substrates and a crosslinking agent capable of forming a covalent bond with the first and second substrates within a vacuum chamber, wherein the crosslinking agent is suspended within the vacuum chamber at a temperature and pressure selected so that: crosslinking agent that contacts and forms a covalent bond with the first and/or second substrate adheres to the first and/or second substrate via the covalent bond; and crosslinking agent that contacts but does not form a covalent bond with the first and/or second substrate evaporates off of the first or second substrate or the matrix into the vacuum chamber; wherein the matrix coated with the first and second substrates, and the crosslinking agent are combined in the vacuum chamber under conditions such that: the pressure is between 10 and 100 Torr; and the crosslinking agent is exposed to the first and/or second substrate for between 5 and 120 minutes; so that the first and second substrates are covalently crosslinked.