Bioadhesion at micro-patterned stimuli-responsive polymer brushes

The synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes within micropatterned domains at surfaces and the performance of these functionalised surfaces in short-term bioadhesion assays under varying conditions are described. The polymer brushes show temperature dependent behaviour at surfaces as demonstrated by changes in contact angle, surface energy components and aqueous phase AFM. The responses in the polymer brush domains result in spatially defined, and temperature mediated, attachment of a model protein, BSA, and the common oral bacteria Streptococcus mutans.