Patent ID: 7119145

Claim:
A method for making a polymeric chromatographic support comprising the steps of: a. selecting a plurality of polymer particles having a specified physical structure and morphology formed from at least one first monomer possessing from 10% to 100% cross-linking wherein said cross-linking is formed exclusively from monomers having at least 2 alkene groups and wherein a portion of said alkene groups remain unreacted, said polymer particles further defining a surface area ranging from about 1 to 1200 square meters per gram of the polymer particles, the particles having from 0.01 μmol/m 2 to 8 μmol/m 2 un-reacted alkene groups on a surface thereof; b. selecting a chemical modifier comprising a second monomer having free alkene groups which provide chromatographic performance, said second monomer being dissimilar from said at least one first monomer; c. selecting a solvent in which the chemical modifier is soluble and which is not reactive with the selected polymer particle; d. selecting a free radical initiator; e. placing the polymer particles, free radical initiator and modifier in the solvent and elevating the temperature as needed to cause a solution-based surface graft modification reaction that attaches the modifier to said unreacted alkene groups of the polymer particle without affecting said physical structure and morphology of said polymer particles.