Enhancement of graft density and chain length of hydrophilic polymer brush for effective marine antifouling

Abstract

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate polymer brushes with various grafting densities and chain lengths were prepared through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. X-ray photoelectron spectra, ellipsometry measurement, contact angle measurement, and atom force microscope were used to characterize the prepared polymer brush. The biofouling assays of polymer brush were investigated by adhesion of Dunaliella tertiolecta, Navcular sp., and Bovine Serum Albumin protein and by static marine immersion field test. Besides, hydroxyl and sulfonate-terminated self-assembled monolayers, anionic charged 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt polymer brush were prepared for comparison. Results suggest that the settlement of microorganisms can be largely reduced by polymer with enough polymer chain length and grafting density. More importantly, static immersion field tests indicate that hydrophilic polymer film with enough hydration layer thickness is necessary for long-term marine antifouling application. This comprehensive investigation is of great importance to understanding their influence on the adhesion of marine microorganism.

One-step zwitterionization and quaternization of thick PDMAEMA layer grafted through subsurface-initiated ATRP for robust antibiofouling and antibacterial coating on PDMS

“…Although ''grafting-from" approach has been recognized as a powerful technique because of its ability to obtain dense polymer brushes with narrow polydispersity, controlled architecture and well-defined thickness and composition [32], the polymerization only on surface limits the expansion of film thickness that is usually up to a few tens of nanometers [33]. Such a nano-thickness coating associated with low density and poor mechanical robustness inhibits the development of excellent and long-term antifouling and antibacterial surfaces [34].…”

Peptide-Modified Surfaces for Binding Carbamylated Proteins from Plasma

“…For surfaces to be used under blood media, stringent criteria on hemocompatibility with resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption is required, and modification of biomaterials with low fouling polymer brushes is an effective strategy. Poly­(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p­(HEMA)) or other acrylate polymer-coated surfaces have been shown to resist protein adsorption under plasma , and marine biofouling, , with their nonfouling mechanisms been studied . Moreover, facile conjugation of bioactive molecules can be done through covalent bonding with the terminal halide groups or the side-chain hydroxyl groups of p­(HEMA) brushes prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP).…”

Aza‐Michael Addition Chemistry for Tuning the Phase Separation of PDMS/PEG Blend Coatings and Their Anti‐Fouling Potentials

“…One major category of antifouling coatings prevents biofoulants from approaching the surface, while the other type weakens the adhesion bonding attached to a surface and allows easy removal with low shear stress for biofoulants, widely known as fouling‐release coatings. More specifically, detailed practices range from surface grafting of hydrophilic polymer brushes (e.g., nonionic, zwitterionic polymers)1,2 to hydrophilic polymeric networks,3 polymer coatings incorporating antifoulants,4,5 hydrophobic fluorogel elastomers,6 polysiloxane based coatings,5 self‐replenishing coatings,7 and other nanocomposites with nano/microscale topographies 8,9…”

“…One major category of antifouling coatings prevents biofoulants from approaching the surface, while the other type weakens the adhesion bonding attached to a surface and allows easy removal with low shear stress for biofoulants, widely known as foulingrelease coatings. More specifically, detailed practices range from surface grafting of hydrophilic polymer brushes (e.g., nonionic, zwitterionic polymers) [1,2] to hydrophilic polymeric networks, [3] polymer coatings incorporating antifoulants, [4,5] hydrophobic fluorogel elastomers, [6] polysiloxane based coatings, [5] self-replenishing coatings, [7] and other nanocomposites with nano/microscale topographies. [8,9] Currently, engineering of surfaces from microphase segregated amphiphilic polymer systems, which combine both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components in one entity, has been constantly gaining attention and recognized as one promising functionalization strategy in various applications including, biocompatible medical implants, devices for biorecognition processes, texturing substrates for supermolecular assemblies, [10,11] and membrane separation processes.…”