Nonbiofouling Coatings Using Bottlebrushes with Concentrated Polymer Brush Architecture

Biomacromolecules. 2021 Jun 14;22(6):2505-2514. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00247. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) are known to suppress biofouling phenomena, such as protein adsorption and cell adhesion. However, a cumbersome process is needed for their synthesis. Here, we report a simple and versatile method for fabricating nonbiofouling coatings that uses well-defined bottlebrushes instead of CPBs. First, a macroinitiator, poly[2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate] (PBIEM), was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Then, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] was grafted from PBIEM through atom transfer radical polymerization to form well-defined bottlebrushes. By controlling the graft chain length, two types of bottlebrushes could be prepared, namely those with a semi-dilute polymer brush (SDPB) structure or a CPB structure on the surface of the outermost layer. Crosslinked films of the bottlebrushes were prepared on silicon wafers by spin-coating and subsequent radical coupling. Importantly, the CPB-type bottlebrush films showed significantly better nonbiofouling characteristics than those of the SDPB-type bottlebrush films.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Biofouling* / prevention & control
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Methacrylates
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Methacrylates
  • Polymers