Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes and Core-Shell Particles Based thereon for Control of Biofouling

Biofilm formation on material surfaces - biofouling - has a significant economic impact on a wide range of applications and industries. There is a huge need for the prevention of undesired interactions of coatings with proteins, cells, and bacteria in biomaterials, biosensors, and other applications. In this work, the preparation and characterization as well as the comparison of bio-fouling properties of surfaces based on planar zwitterionic polymer brushes made of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) P(SBMA-3), poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) P(CBMA-2), or poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) P(MPC-2) are reported. Since polymer brushes on planar surfaces have disadvantages with regard to layer stability, industrial scaling, and the coating of complex geometries, nano- and microstructured coatings based on polymer-functionalized core-shell particles are subsequently produced. It is found that coatings based on poly(phosphorylcholine) P(MPC-2) modified particles with a diameter of 100 nm have the lowest bioadhesion compared to other particle sizes and chemical compositions. The particle-based coatings developed can pave the way for developing scalable anti-fouling coatings in the future.