Compositions are provided herein comprising a base material having engrafted polymer brushes. The polymer brushes further comprise one or more functional groups immobilized along the surface of the brushes in a plurality of layers, which confer functional properties to the base material compositions. Methods of using these compositions include deoxygenation of a sample solution, hydrolysis of denaturing agents in a sample solution, resolution of racemic mixtures in a sample solution, and purification, and concentration of target compounds.