Immobilized hyperbranched glycoacrylate films as bioactive supports

We report on the low-pressure plasma immobilization, characterization and application of thin films of hyperbranched glycoacrylates, poly(3-O-acryloyl-alpha, beta-D-glucopyranoside) (AGlc), on PTFE-like fluorocarbon surfaces. This method is an efficient and versatile way to immobilize sugar-carrying branched acrylates as thin films of approximately 5 nm thickness on polymeric substrates while the functional groups and properties of the immobilized molecules are largely retained. The extent of poly(AGlc) degradation during plasma immobilization was investigated using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and XPS. The thickness and topography of the immobilized films were characterized using spectroscopic ellipsometry and SFM, respectively. Studies of protein adsorption, as well as cell adhesion and proliferation on the poly(AGlc) surfaces, showed that these materials are suitable for the control of biointerfacial phenomena.