Fabrication of patterned polymer brushes using programmable modulated light-excited controllable radical polymerization

In the present work, programmable light pattern produced by digital micro-mirror device (DMD) spatial light modulator was employed to initiate the atom transfer radial polymerization (ATRP) for fabricating the patterned polymer brushes on the silicon substrate surface. Results from a series of characterization methods such as optical microscopy, 3D optical surface profiler, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved the poly (ethylene glycol) methyl acrylate (PEGMA) brushes with complex structures were successfully generated. The thickness of PEGMA brushes could be regulated by adjusting the DMD light modulation parameter including pattern size, gray value and exposure time. The contact angle measurements showed the PEGMA brushes could improve the hydrophi-licity property of substrate surface. The antifouling property of the patterned surfaces with different shapes were tested, and the results indicated that the PEGMA brushes could effectively resist the adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein, leading to the selective arrangement of protein. The reported method for generating the polymer brush patterns shows great potential for the manipulation of surface property in facilitating a range amount of applications from anti-biofouling coating, interface lubrication to biomimetic and smart surfaces.