Formation of a glyco-functionalized interface on polyethylene using a side-chain crystalline block copolymer with epoxide

A side-chain crystalline block copolymer was applied for the chemical modification of polyethylene surfaces. A block copolymer with stearyl and epoxy groups was prepared by nitroxide-mediated living radical polymerization. This copolymer had a phase transition temperature of ~40 °C. When the side-chain crystalline block copolymer was immobilized on polyethylene, a polymeric layer with nucleophilic reactivity was formed. The layer thickness increased with increasing copolymer concentration. Galactoside ligands were added to the polymeric layer by the ring-opening addition reaction of the epoxide. The obtained glyco-functionalized interface exhibited specific protein binding; the polyethylene surface containing galactoside ligands was adsorbed to peanut agglutinin rather than wheat germ agglutinin.