Volume 22, Issue 11 2200200
Research Article

Effect of Molecular Weights on Metal-Mediated Grafting of Sulfobetaine Polymers onto Solid Surfaces for Non-Biofouling Applications

Inho Kim

Inho Kim

Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk, 28644 Republic of Korea

Search for more papers by this author
Yohan Kim

Yohan Kim

Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk, 28644 Republic of Korea

Search for more papers by this author
Sung Min Kang

Corresponding Author

Sung Min Kang

Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk, 28644 Republic of Korea

E-mail: [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 04 July 2022
Citations: 3

Abstract

The grafting of zwitterionic molecules onto solid surfaces is an important tool for decreasing the unwanted adsorption of biomolecules, such as proteins, bacteria, and cells. This has been achieved through various approaches, such as zwitterionic monolayer/multilayer formation, surface-initiated polymerization of zwitterionic monomers, and grafting of presynthesized zwitterionic polymers. Recently, a coordination-driven approach to grafting zwitterionic polymers onto solid surfaces has been discovered to be an effective method because of its versatility and robustness. However, the bacterial adhesion resistance of zwitterionic polymer grafting has been explored using only one molecular weight, and the non-biofouling performance against other fouling organisms has remained unexamined. In this study, the characteristics of coordination-driven surface zwitteration are systematically investigated. Sulfobetaine (SB) polymers with three different molecular weights are synthesized and employed for surface grafting. Polydopamine is used as a surface primer, and SB polymers are grafted onto the surfaces via the formation of metal-mediated coordinate bonds. The effect of molecular weight on the grafting efficiency and non-biofouling performance is investigated via protein adsorption and marine diatom adhesion assays. The SB polymer with a high molecular weight is found to be crucial for achieving strong resistance to protein adsorption and marine fouling.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.