This work describes the fabrication, characterization, and protein adsorption behavior of charged polymer gradients. The thin gradient films were fabricated by a two-step technique using UV-initiated free-radical polymerization in a reactor with a moving shutter. A homogeneous layer of cationic poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride) was first formed, followed by a layer of oppositely charged poly(2-carboxyethyl acrylate) with a continuously increasing thickness. Adsorption from protein solutions as well as human blood plasma was investigated by imaging surface plasmon resonance and infrared microscopy. The results showed excessive protein adsorption in the areas where one of the polymers dominated the composition, while there was a clear minimum at an intermediate position of the gradient. The charge of the surface was estimated by direct force measurements and found to correlate well with the protein adsorption, showing the lowest net charge in the same area as the protein adsorption minimum. We therefore hypothesize that a combination of the charged polymers, in the right proportions, can result in a protein-resistant surface due to balanced charges.

We report on the preparation and characterization of thin polyampholytic hydrogel gradient films permitting pH-controlled protein resistance via the regulation of surface charges. The hydrogel gradients are composed of cationic poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride) (PAEMA), and anionic poly(2-carboxyethyl acrylate) (PCEA) layers, which are fabricated by Self-Initiated Photografting and Photopolymerization (SIPGP). Using a two-step UV exposure procedure, a polymer thickness gradient of one component is formed on top of a uniform layer of the oppositely charged polymer. The swelling of the gradient films in water and buffers at different pH were characterized by imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry. The surface charge distribution and steric interactions with the hydrogel gradients were recorded by direct force measurement with colloidal-probe atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that formation of a charged polymer thickness gradient on top of a uniform layer of opposite charge can result in a region of charge-neutrality. This charge-neutral region is highly resistant to non-specific adsorption of proteins, and its location along the gradient can be controlled via the pH of the surrounding buffer. The pH-controlled protein adsorption and desorption was monitored in real-time by imaging surface plasmon resonance, while the corresponding redistribution of surface charge was confirmed by direct force measurements.

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Rational design and informed development of nontoxic antifouling coatings requires a thorough understanding of the interactions between surfaces and fouling species. With more complex antifouling materials, such as composites or zwitterionic polymers, there follows also a need for better characterization of the materials as such. To further the understanding of the antifouling properties of charge-balanced polymers, we explore the properties of layered polyelectrolytes and their interactions with charged surfaces. These polymers were prepared via self-initiated photografting and photopolymerization (SIPGP); on top of a uniform bottom layer of anionic poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), a cationic poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) thickness gradient was formed. Infrared microscopy and imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry were used to characterize chemical composition and swelling of the combined layer. Direct force measurements by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy were performed to investigate the forces between the polymer gradients and charged probes. The swelling of PMAA and PDMAEMA are very different, with steric and electrostatic forces varying in a nontrivial manner along the gradient. The gradients can be tuned to form a protein-resistant charge-neutral region, and we demonstrate that this region, where both electrostatic and steric forces are small, is highly compressed and the origin of the protein resistance of this region is most likely an effect of strong hydration of charged residues at the surface, rather than swelling or bulk hydration of the polymer. In the highly swollen regions far from charge-neutrality, steric forces dominate the interactions between the probe and the polymer. In these regions, the SIPGP polymer has qualitative similarities with brushes, but we were unable to quantitatively describe the polymer as a brush, supporting previous data suggesting that these polymers are cross-linked.

Gut gefaltet: Mikrometerlange und nanometerdünne Fasern aus Vierhelixbündeln entstehen beim faltungsvermittelten Zusammenlagern von disulfidverknüpften Helix‐Schleife‐Helix‐Polypeptiden (siehe Bild). Bei neutralem pH‐Wert bilden sich die Fasern durch Heteroassoziation, bei saurem durch Homoassoziation. Die Heteroassoziat‐Fasern lagern sich auch zu Nanoringen mit Durchmessern bis 5 μm zusammen.

This thesis is dedicated to building up fundamental knowledge about polyampholytic hydrogels, which are developed in our group for anti-fouling purposes. Charge-balanced polymers, where positive and negative charges balance each other, have emerged as interesting candidates for many applications in materials science. We have prepared charge-balanced materials by forming thickness gradients of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, and use these as model systems for a systematic investigation of the materials and their responses to environmental changes. These hydrogel gradients were sequentially grafted from substrates via surface-initiated photografting and photopolymerization (SIPGP) of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. At some thickness ratios, these form a charge-balanced system where the net surface charge is zero, and with certain similarity to zwitterionic systems. The surface charge of the hydrogels is the principal parameter regulating non-specific protein adsorption, and among other things, we demonstrate that the position of the fouling-resistant charge-neutral region can be manipulated upon pH changes. The chemical compositions of the hydrogel gradients were characterized by microscopic infrared spectroscopy. Optical analysis by spectroscopic ellipsometry and imaging surface plasmon resonance were used to monitor the swelling of the hydrogel films, and protein adsorption onto these in real-time. Surface forces, i.e. the interactions with the hydrogels from an intermolecular perspective, which are related mainly to electrostatic and steric forces, were probed by direct force measurement using atomic force microscopy. Force curves were used to determine the surface charge distribution over the hydrogels, and to indicate the correlation between surface charge and protein adsorption. In the later work, hydrogel gradients were patterned as arrayed spots. Their thicknesses and surface roughness provide further information about the polymer structure and provides a basis for relating ellipsometric swelling profiles to thicknesses as obtained by atomic force microscopy. Finally, it is demonstrated how charged hydrogel films can be used as spacers to tune the optimum distance between silver nanoparticles and fluorophores for metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). The aim of this work is to understand polyampholytic hydrogels from various perspectives: surface charges and their distribution, the polymer structure, and surface interactions. The knowledge and experience obtained contribute to the general understanding of zwitterionic materials, and to the development of anti-fouling coatings, optical sensing platforms and other applications of charge-balanced hydrogels.