Probing carbonyl-water hydrogen-bond interactions in thin polyoxazoline brushes

Biointerphases. 2016 Mar 8;11(1):019005. doi: 10.1116/1.4939249.

Abstract

Temperature-responsive oxazoline-based polymer brushes have gained increased attention as biocompatible surfaces. In aqueous environment, they can be tuned between hydrophilic and hydrophobic behavior triggered by a temperature stimulus. This transition is connected with changes in molecule-solvent interactions and results in a switching of the brushes between swollen and collapsed states. This work studies the temperature-dependent interactions between poly(2-oxazoline) brushes and water. In detail, thermoresponsive poly(2-cyclopropyl-2-oxazoline), nonresponsive hydrophilic poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), as well as a copolymer of the two were investigated with in situ infrared ellipsometry. Focus was put on interactions of the brushes' carbonyl groups with water molecules. Different polymer-water interactions could be observed and assigned to hydrogen bonding between C=O groups and water molecules. The switching behavior of the brushes in the range of 20-45 °C was identified by frequency shifts and intensity changes of the amide I band.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions / radiation effects*
  • Oxazoles / chemistry*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Oxazoles
  • poly(2-oxazoline)
  • Water