title: Functionalization of nylon membranes via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization.
abstract: The ability to manipulate and control the surface properties of nylons is of crucial importance to their widespread applications. In this work, surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is employed to tailor the functionality of the nylon membrane and pore surfaces in a well-controlled manner. A simple two-step method, involving the activation of surface amide groups with formaldehyde and the reaction of the resulting N-methylol polyamide with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, was first developed for the covalent immobilization of ATRP initiators on the nylon membrane and its pore surfaces. Functional polymer brushes of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)monomethacrylate (PEGMA) were prepared via surface-initiated ATRP from the nylon membranes. A kinetics study revealed that the chain growth from the membranes was consistent with a "controlled" process. The dormant chain ends of the grafted HEMA polymer (P(HEMA)) and PEGMA polymer (P(PEGMA)) on the nylon membranes could be reactivated for the consecutive surface-initiated ATRP to produce the corresponding nylon membranes functionalized by P(HEMA)-b-P(PEGMA) and P(PEGMA)-b-P(HEMA) diblock copolymer brushes. In addition, membranes with grafted P(HEMA) and P(PEGMA) brushes exhibited good resistance to protein adsorption and fouling under continuous-flow conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Neoh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008689:Methacrylates; D009757:Nylons; D011506:Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate