Model Amphiphilic Block Copolymers with Tailored Molecular Weight and Composition in PDMS-Based Films to Limit Soft Biofouling

Journal Article · Tue May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b03168· OSTI ID:1409567

Wenning, Brandon M. ^[1]; Martinelli, Elisa ^[1]; Mieszkin, Sophie ^[2]; Finlay, John A. ^[2]; Fischer, Daniel ^[3]; Callow, James A. ^[2]; Callow, Maureen E. ^[2]; Leonardi, Amanda K.; Ober, Christopher K. ; Galli, Giancarlo ^[1]

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1. Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy
2. School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 5TT, U.K.
3. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States

A set of controlled surface composition films was produced utilizing amphiphilic block copolymers dispersed in a cross-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) network. These block copolymers contained oligo(ethylene glycol) (PEGMA) and fluoroalkyl (AF6) side chains in selected ratios and molecular weights to control surface chemistry including antifouling and fouling-release performance. Such properties were assessed by carrying out assays using two algae, the green macroalga Ulva linza (favors attachment to polar surfaces) and the unicellular diatom Navicula incerta (favors attachment to nonpolar surfaces). All films performed well against U. linza and exhibited high removal of attached sporelings (young plants) under an applied shear stress, with the lower molecular weight block copolymers being the best performing in the set. The composition ratios from 50:50 to 60:40 of the AF6/PEGMA side groups were shown to be more effective, with several films exhibiting spontaneous removal of the sporelings. The cells of N. incerta were also removed from several coating compositions. All films were characterized by surface techniques including captive bubble contact angle, atomic force microscopy, and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy to correlate surface chemistry and morphology with biological performance.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 1409567
• Report Number(s): BNL-114619-2017-JA¿¿¿
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 9, Issue 19; ISSN 1944-8244
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE