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A facile method of using sulfobetaine‐containing copolymers for biofouling resistance
Author(s) -
Liu Qingsheng,
Li Wenchen,
Wang Hua,
Liu Lingyun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.40789
Subject(s) - methacrylate , biofouling , copolymer , adsorption , protein adsorption , polymer chemistry , materials science , polymer , monomer , contact angle , chemical engineering , aqueous solution , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , membrane , engineering
ABSTRACT Antifouling materials are desirable for many biomedical applications. In this work, the poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate‐ co ‐butyl methacrylate) (PSB) copolymers were investigated for their antifouling properties. The copolymers were synthesized via a simple free‐radical polymerization with feed ratio of the zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) varying from 0 to 20 mol %. The polymer composition was verified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and surface plasmon resonance were used to evaluate protein adsorption on a series of PSB copolymers from the single protein solution of fibrinogen, undiluted human blood serum, and undiluted human blood plasma. Results show that the protein adsorption amount decreased with the increasing content of SBMA in the copolymers. The adsorption levels achieved by PSB containing 20 mol % SBMA (PSB20) were only 4, 17, and 15 ng/cm 2 from fibrinogen, serum, and plasma, respectively, which represented 99%, 90%, and 90% reduction compared with the adsorption amounts on poly(butyl methacrylate) with no SBMA. The PSB20 film also completely inhibited endothelial cell attachment. Fouling resistance of PSB polymers can be well correlated with their receding water contact angles, which represent the polymer surface compositions in aqueous environment. The excellent antifouling abilities of PSB copolymers, combined with the facial synthesis method, commercial availability of all monomers, and low cost, render them highly promising for wide practical applications. The polymers can be applied versatilely as both solvent‐cast films and surface coatings. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40789.