Carbohydrate-Responsive Surface Adhesion Based on the Dynamic Covalent Chemistry of Phenylboronic Acid- and Catechol-Containing Polymer Brushes

A glue, based on dynamic covalent chemistry, with a strong adhesion (2.38 kg cm(-2)), water resistance and carbohydrate responsive reversibility is presented. Using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), glass and silicon surfaces were coated with copolymers functionalized with phenylboronic acids and catechols. In combination with microcontact printing (CP) these polymer brushes give access to a carbohydrate responsive supramolecular Velcro.