Thermoresponsive Polymer Brushes for Switchable Protein Adsorption via Dopamine‐Assisted Grafting‐To Strategy

Surface modifications using responsive polymers give access to biomedical applications that rely on switchable properties, such as smart sensors and actuator systems. In this work, thermoresponsive polymer coatings are synthesized silicon oxide surfaces a facile effective two-step grafting-to strategy. Briefly, the substrates first functionalized with poly(dopamine) (poly(DA)) primer layer. Subsequently, block copolymers of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly(GMA)20-block-poly(NIPAM)n (n = 263, 528 705)) via reversible addition‑fragmentation chain‑transfer (RAFT) polymerization, grafted poly(DA)-modified surfaces. Characterization ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) contact angle measurements confirmed attachment appreciable grafting densities. Quartz crystal microbalance dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) is employed investigate properties degree hydration below above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The longer chain, more water lost per repeating unit upon increasing LCST. exposed diluted undiluted human serum at 20 °C 40 demonstrate for all three brushes protein adsorption-repellence. broader perspective, study presents straightforward, robust efficient procedure modify virtually any surface type coating.