Thermoresponsive, Pyrrolidone?Based Antifouling Polymer Brushes

Commonly, modification of surfaces with thermoresponsive polymers is performed using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NIPAM)). However, integration poly(NIPAM) a second polymer to obtain more complex copolymer structures has proven challenging due inherently poorly controllable polymerization characteristics acrylamides. In this study, (N-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)pyrrolidone (NMEP) synthesized and polymerized under controlled conditions from silicon oxide substrates via surface-initiated atom transfer radical (SI-ATRP) produce poly(NMEP) brushes. The livingness the brushes demonstrated by reinitiation oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate diblock Following extensive characterization, reversible behavior these phase-controlled AFM topography measurements in an aqueous liquid environment. These indicate that at 27 °C are solvated extend away surface, whereas 60 insoluble reside collapsed conformation. Finally, investigate potential applicability biomedical devices, antifouling properties coating tested media containing BSA, fibrinogen, or 10% diluted human serum quartz crystal microbalance dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). reveal very good properties, even when exposed serum.