Polyvinylamine (PVAm) was derivatized with lactobionic acid to give PVAm-GAL with pendant galactose groups along the PVAm chain. The galactose substituents were shown to undergo two types of specific interactions: (1) condensation with phenylboronic acid moieties on polymers and on surfaces; and, (2) the specific binding of RCA(120), a galactose-specific lectin. Surface binding and assembly was monitored with Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM-D) measurements. Multilayer assemblies based on boronic ester formation were destroyed by lowering the pH, or by introducing sorbitol. We propose that the physical adsorption of PVAm-GAL onto silica or other negatively charged support surfaces is a simple route to galactose-rich interfaces, possibly useful for affinity separations, cell targeting and cell culturing. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.