Suppressing Surface Reconstruction of Superhydrophobic PDMS Using a Superhydrophilic Zwitterionic Polymer

Abstract

Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) is extensively used for biomedical applications due to its low cost, ease of fabrication, high durability and flexibility, oxygen permeability, and self-healing properties. PDMS, however, has some significant drawbacks. PDMS endures unacceptably high levels of non-specific protein fouling when used with biological samples due to its superhydrophobic characteristics. Unfortunately, conventional surface modification methods do not work for PDMS due to its low glass transition temperature. This phenomenon has been well-known for years as “hydrophobic regeneration”. For the same reason, it is also very difficult to bring functionalities onto PDMS surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate how a superhydrophilic zwitterionic material, poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (pCBMA), can provide a highly stable coating with long term stabilty due to the sharp contrast in hydrophobicity between pCBMA and PDMS. This material is able to suppress nonspecific protein adsorption in complex media and functionalize desired biomolecules needed in applications, such as diagnostics, without sacrificing its nonfouling characteristics.

Bottom-up fabrication of zwitterionic polymer brushes on intraocular lens for improved biocompatibility

“…Excellent antifouling properties and long-term stability of the zwitterionic polymer-modified silicone were observed. 17 Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization is another living radical polymerization and has enjoyed widespread acceptance as a modification technique due to its capability to control polymerization of diverse monomers under mild reaction conditions without the requirement of metal catalysts. 18,19 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) is another zwitterionic material, and can provide an artificial cell membrane structure at the surface due to its biomimetic structure and serve as an excellent biointerface between artificial and biological systems.…”

Recent Developments in the Preparation of Silicones with Antimicrobial Properties

“…The most commonly used plasma is ozone, which forms peroxides on the surface. Li et al [69] developed surface roughness by crosslinkingp oly(ethylene glycold imethacrylate) (PEGDMA) to silicone.K eefe et al [70] and Yehe tal. [71] also used ozone to graft superhydrophilic zwitterionic materials, which are strongly hydrated, barely soluble in nonaqueouss olvents, and have strong chain-chain interactions owing to ionic forces, and are an ideal connection between biological mediaand PDMS.…”

Experimental design and analysis of activators regenerated by electron transfer-atom transfer radical polymerization experimental conditions for grafting sodium styrene sulfonate from titanium substrates

“…The synthesis of the ATRP initiator, trichlorosilane/10-undecen-1-yl 2-bromo-2-methylpropionate (henceforth referred to as ester ClSi), has been described previously. 7 An amide (referred to as amide ClSi) version of the same molecule was graciously provided by the Jiang group at the University of Washington. Bromoisobutyrate undecyl disulfide (99%) (henceforth referred to simply as thiol, since it forms a gold-thiolate bond on the surface) was purchased from Assemblon.…”

“…When combined with a material-specific strategy for immobilizing an ATRP initiator, ARGET-ATRP can be used to modify most metal, oxide, and ceramic surfaces, 1,3,5 as well as polymer surfaces. [6][7][8][9] However, much of the fundamental understanding of ARGET-ATRP, or more generally ATRP, is based on studies focusing on solution-phase polymerizations. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] While publications describing ATRP and ARGET-ATRP grafting of different polymers from a variety of surfaces are plentiful in the literature, the authors are aware of few studies that explore in detail the relationship between process variables and film quality.…”