Protein adsorption resistance of anti-biofouling block copolymers containing amphiphilic side chains

Abstract

Surface active block copolymers (SABCs) with amphiphilic side chains containing ethoxylated fluoroalkyl groups have previously demonstrated advantageous properties with regard to marine fouling resistance and release. While it was previously postulated that the ability of the block copolymer surface to undergo an environment-dependent transformation in surface structure aided this behaviour, protein adsorption characteristics of the surface were never explored. This study aims to expand our knowledge of protein interaction with the amphiphilic surface active block copolymer in an aqueous environment through experiments with bovine serum albumin (BSA), a widely utilized test protein. Fluorescence microscopy analysis using BSA labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (BSA-FITC) was performed on a SABC test surface to establish the polymer's protein adsorption resistance. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) based chemical force microscopy (CFM) was utilized to examine the force of adhesion of an AFM tip functionalized with strands of BSA protein with the SABC. No measurable force of adhesion was detected for 58% of the measurements of adhesion force taken for a BSA coated AFM tip interacting with the surface of the amphiphilic SABC in a PBS buffer. Furthermore, no measurements of force of adhesion were made in excess of 0.15 nN. This was in contrast to the non-zero mean adhesion force seen for several control surfaces in PBS buffer.

Mussel-Inspired Dopamine- and Plant-Based Cardanol-Containing Polymer Coatings for Multifunctional Filtration Membranes

“…35,36,[50][51][52] Flat polymer surfaces prepared by spin-coating on silicon wafers are commonly used to obtain force-extension curves, because uneven membrane surfaces containing pores can affect the interaction forces between the tips and the polymer films. Since bovine serum albumin (BSA) and saturated hydrocarbon compounds are commonly used as the bio-foulant and the oil-foulant, respectively, to estimate the bio-and oil-fouling resistance of the membranes, respectively, they were tethered on the AFM tips to estimate the interactions of the membrane with the bio-and oil-foulants, respectively 30.…”

Molecular fouling resistance of zwitterionic and amphiphilic initiated chemically vapor-deposited (iCVD) thin films

“…This is because glass surface is very hydrophilic and smooth and therefore has inherent fouling resistance. [14] We have also captured this interesting phenomenon previously, [16] where unfiltered seawater was flown over a glass surface and no fouling was observed after 100 h. Therefore, the fluorescent imaging technique is able to differentiate a surface with high fouling propensity (such as gold) from one with low fouling propensity (such as glass), but not sufficient to distinguish a surfaces with different antifouling capabilities.…”

“…This methodology represents a quantitative and reproducible way to assess fouling resistance against a large library of foulants and to screen a collection of antifouling surface chemistries rapidly. [14] Four types of surfaces were characterized using this method, among which two have been known as antifouling surfaces (amphiphilic and zwitterionic surfaces). Gold and glass surfaces, which are commonly used controls in laboratory testing, were also examined.…”

Protein adsorption and cell adhesion controlled by the surface chemistry of binary perfluoroalkyl/oligo(ethylene glycol) self-assembled monolayers

“…The above mentioned investigations are largely based on the SAM technology [9,10,[12][13][14]. However, SAM model surfaces composed of PFAand OEG-containing amphiphilic components are scarcely reported although the polymeric counterparts as coating layers have raised great attention because of their excellent surface properties in resisting protein adsorption and cell adhesion [20][21][22]. Using binary PFA/OEG SAM systems as model surfaces to explore protein adsorption and cell adhesion is favorable for the in-depth understanding of the surface chemistry effect, establishing the correlation of PFA/OEG composition with their surface property, hence improving the ability in controlling protein adsorption and cell adhesion.…”