Amphiphilic copolymers of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate with controlled hydrophilicity for antialgal activity

Abstract

Biofouling due to algae mass attachment has detrimental effects on the performance and economy of many manufacturing processes. In consideration of this, present research is focused to mitigate such effect through the development of environmentally benign active antialgal cationic amphiphilic copolymers of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The copolymers compositions were synthesized to tailor various characteristics to control surface biofilm formation and antialgal activities were determined through suspension assay. Biofilm formation of Dictyosphaerium sp. algae on the synthesized copolymers of different surface energies was ascertained by measuring chlorophyll A content and percent adhesion of algae. The copolymers antialgal performance enhanced with increase in PDMAEMA concentration as it exhibited the lowest contact angle as well as adhesion and minimum chlorophyll A contents. Algal adhesion on the surface of materials was also observed by optical microscopy. The copolymers with higher concentration of DMAEMA resulted in greater hydrophilicity which exhibited low adhesion of Dictyosphaerium algae due to possibility of stronger hydration effect and wettability as evident from their lower water contact angle. The developed benign cationic polymers of PDMAEMA and PMMA with varying compositions can lead to important breakthrough in the subject area of antialgal research in several manufacturing processes.

Probing the binding behavior and kinetic studies of amphiphilic acrylate copolymers with bovine serum albumin

“…Moreover, the rate constant values k1 are very small in each polymer that indicates low adsorption possibility on the polymers. It is due to the antifouling behavior of these polymers as indicated in our previous studies [17,18,29]. These results are in accordance with the zeta potential values.…”

Probing the behavior and kinetic studies of amphiphilic acrylate copolymers with bovine serum albumin

“…Moreover, the rate constant values k1 are very small in each polymer that indicates low adsorption possibility on the polymers. It is due to the antifouling behavior of these polymers as indicated in our previous studies 28 , 30 , 35 . These results are in accordance with the zeta potential values at pH 7.4 the BSA has a low negative charge as well as p MD1, p MD2, p MS1 and p MS2 also have a negative charge that causes repulsion to the incoming BSA molecules and results in low adsorption on the polymer surface.…”

Ultrafiltration polyanionic poly (3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate) membranes with enhanced antifouling and water flux

“…The determination of the apparent surface energy was achieved through the utilization of various methods, including the application of the equilibrium contact angle and the Chibowski Equation (9) that illustrate the correlation between surface energy and the reduction in contact angle 44 . Greater hydrophilicity of material as a result of increase in polyanion concentration enhanced the hydration shell of water on the surface 45 $$$$ {\gamma}_S=\frac{\gamma_l}{2}\left(1+{cos\theta}_{Eq}\right) $$$$ …”

“…44 Greater hydrophilicity of material as a result of increase in polyanion concentration enhanced the hydration shell of water on the surface. 45 γ…”