Systematic Comparison of Zwitterionic and Non-Zwitterionic Antifouling Polymer Brushes on a Bead-Based Platform

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01832
• Publication Date: 2018-09-28T23:20:49Z
• Authors: Esther van Andel; Stefanie C. Lange; Sidharam P. Pujari; Edwin J. Tijhaar; Maarten M. J. Smu...; Huub F. J. Savelkoul; Han Zuilhof
• Keywords: Biofouling; Biomolecule; Methylene blue; Bead

Nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules to solid surfaces, a process called biofouling, is major concern in many biomedical applications. Great effort has been made the development antifouling polymer coatings that are capable repelling nonspecific proteins, cells, and micro-organisms. In this respect, we herein contribute understanding factors determine which brush results best coating. To end, compared five different monomers: two sulfobetaines, carboxybetaine, phosphocholine, hydroxyl acrylamide. The were analyzed using our previously described bead-based method with flow cytometry as read-out system. This allows for quick automated analysis thousands beads per second, enabling fast good statistics. We report first direct comparison between sulfobetaine opposite charges separated by three methylene groups carboxybetaine bearing separating groups. It was concluded both distance nature anionic have distinct effect on performance. Phosphocholines simple acrylamides not often betaines. However, here found they perform equally well or even better, yielding following overall ranking: HPMAA ≥ PCMA-2 ≈ CBMAA-2 > SBMAA-2 SBMAA-3 ≫ nonmodified (HPMAA being best).