A low-fouling polymer surface prepared by controlled segregation of poly(ethylene oxide) and its functionalization with biomolecules

A polyethylene terephthalate polymer surface was modified by dip coating in a polymer mixture composed of methacrylate-based terpolymers containing both perfluoroalkyl (R-f) groups and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains, vinylidenefluoridetetrafluoroethylene copolymers ((CH2CF2)(80)(CF2CF2)(20)) and poly(methyl methacrylate). The terpolymers contained Rf groups with various numbers of carbons. After the dip coating, both the Rf groups and the PEO chains predominantly segregated on the top surface. The modified surfaces were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, protein adsorption, thrombogenesis and cell adhesion. The results indicate that because of the surface-segregated PEO chains, the surfaces exhibited resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption, antithrombogenicity and resistance to cell adhesion. In addition, covalent conjugation of biotin with the PEO termini enabled selective immobilization of streptavidin from a mixed protein solution on the dip-coated surface.