title: Effect of polymer brush architecture on antibiofouling properties.
abstract: Polymer brushes show great promise in next-generation antibiofouling surfaces. Here, we have studied the influence of polymer brush architecture on protein resistance. By carefully optimizing reaction conditions, we were able to polymerize oligoglycerol-based brushes with sterically demanding linear or dendronized side chains on gold surfaces. Protein adsorption from serum and plasma was analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Our findings reveal a pronounced dependence of biofouling on brush architecture. Bulky yet flexible side chains as in dendronized brushes provide an ideal environment to repel protein-possibly through formation of a hydration layer, which can be further enhanced by presenting free hydroxyl groups on the polymer brushes. A deeper understanding of how brush architecture influences protein resistance will ultimately enable fabrication of surface coatings tailored to specific requirements in biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB21EW, UK.
authors.forename: Gesine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunkel
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinhart
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becherer
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haag
authors.forename: Wilhelm T S
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Huck
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001798:Blood Proteins; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005990:Glycerol