Antifouling Surface Coatings from Self‐Assembled Zwitterionic Aramid Amphiphile Nanoribbons

Abstract

Zwitterionic surfaces are increasingly explored as antifouling coatings due to their propensity to resist protein, bacterial, and cell adhesion and are typically applied as polymeric systems. Here, the self‐assembly of strongly interacting small molecule amphiphiles is reported to produce nanoribbons for antifouling applications. Synthesized amphiphiles spontaneously form micrometers‐long nanoribbons with nanometer‐scale cross‐sections and intrinsically display a dense coating of zwitterionic moieties on their surfaces. Substrates coated with nanoribbons demonstrate concentration‐dependent thicknesses and near superhydrophilicity. These surface coatings are then probed for antifouling properties and substantial reductions are demonstrated in protein adsorption, bacterial biofilm formation, and cell adhesion relative to uncoated controls. Harnessing cohesive small molecule self‐assembling nanomaterials for surface coatings offers a facile route to effective antifouling surfaces.

SARS‐CoV‐2 Virus Detection Via a Polymeric Nanochannel‐Based Electrochemical Biosensor

“…Self-assembled monolayers in particular have been proven to be an excellent choice for this purpose. [28][29][30][31][32] Here, we have chosen a self-assembled monolayer of sodium 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) to modify the Au electrodes due to MESNA's bifunctional properties: 1) with the thiol group to anchor on the Au electrodes and 2) with the sulfonate group to enhance the wettability of the Au surfaces; and therefore, effectively reduce biofouling. [33] To evaluate the antifouling properties after MESNA modification, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was used as the foulant.…”