Synthesis of adherent hydrophilic polypyrrole coatings onto (semi)conducting surfaces

Hydrophilic and adherent polypyrrole coatings were prepared by a two-step electrochemical method. First, alpha-pyrrole, omega-acrylate polyethylene oxide (Py-PEO-A) dual macromonomer was synthesized by anionic polymerization and electrografted onto (semi)conducting substrates by cathodic polymerization of the acrylic end-group. The obtained adherent coating is hydrophilic and thus swells in water and bears a pyrrole ring, a precursor of the conducting polymer. In a second step, the coating is anodically polarized in a mixture of Py and Py-PEO to give the hydrophilic and adherent polypyrrole. Properties such as morphology, adherence, electroactivity, and hydrophilicity of these coatings were investigated by conventional methods and compared to those of pure polypyrrole coatings. These novel coatings exhibit efficient protein adsorption repellency and are thus good candidates for applications in biomaterials and biosensors.