A Simple and Robust Method to Prepare Polyelectrolyte Brushes on Polymer Surfaces

A simple and robust method is presented to immobilize a heparin-analog polyelectrolyte on inert hydrophobic surfaces. It demonstrated that an amphiphilic block copolymer consisting of linear polyglycerol sulfate (lPGS) benzophenone modified anchor can be bound polystyrene surfaces in facile dip-coating procedure. The chaotropic salt guanidinium chloride used overcome the aggregation polymer as well repulsion between highly hydrated groups surface. Irradiation with UV light tethers chains covalently resulting coating exhibits aggregate morphology resembles behavior solution, thickness 8 nm. dominated by brush coating. They swell collapse response different ionic strengths surrounding medium, bind proteins via electrostatic interactions. stable toward physiological conditions over course several weeks. Coated complement cascade when contact dilute blood serum, which results decrease activity 78 ± 4%. procedure also applied other nonactivated surfaces, polypropylene fleece.