Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomas Riedel, Andres de los Santos Pereira, Johanka Taborska, Zuzana Riedelova, Ognen Pop-Georgievski, Pavel Majek, Klara Pecankova, Cesar Rodriguez-Emmenegger
Summary: Non-specific protein adsorption triggers deleterious events in biomaterial applications. This study reveals that the variability of fouling on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is due to complement system activation, which amplifies fouling via the alternative complement pathway.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Eric Ziemann, Ji Qin, Tali Coves, Roy Bernstein
Summary: This research examined how linear or branched brushes on porous ultrafiltration membranes affect their antifouling behavior. By modifying polyethersulfone membranes, different polymer brushes were created using a one-pot lithiation/acylation process. Surface analyses showed differences in brush architecture and higher grafting for linear brushes compared to branched ones. Colloidal probe lateral force atomic force microscopy (LFM) demonstrated that lower branching degree poly(SBMA-co-MBAm) had ideal hydration-lubrication properties. Fouling experiments with bovine serum albumin and dextran showed that both linear and branched modifications reduced fouling compared to the pristine membrane. The study also found that an optimal degree of branching can limit foulant adsorption.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zuzana Riedelova, Andres de los Santos Pereira, Jan Svoboda, Ognen Pop-Georgievski, Pavel Majek, Klara Pecankova, Filip Dycka, Cesar Rodriguez-Emmenegger, Tomas Riedel
Summary: This study investigated the hemocompatibility of polymer brushes prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization when exposed to heparinized blood. The results showed that the polymer brushes minimized platelet and leukocyte adhesion, prevented thrombus formation, and reduced fouling from undiluted blood plasma by up to 99%. Mass spectroscopy analysis revealed that the identified proteins were primarily involved in the initial events of foreign body reaction towards biomaterials.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Zhou, Guoqing Xiao, Yi He, Jingcheng Wu, Heng Shi, Fei Zhong, Xiangying Yin, Zhenyu Li, Jingyu Chen
Summary: This study presents a simple method to fabricate multifunctional filtration membranes (MFMs) with super-hydrophilic/underwater super-oleophobic performance for purifying oil-in-water emulsions. The MFM shows strong chemical and physical resistance, as well as the ability to adsorb soluble dyes and metallic ions, making it ideal for treating complex wastewater.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Biwen Wang, Peng Wang, Baoluo He, Shuanhong Ma, Shujuan Liu, Qian Ye, Feng Zhou
Summary: A double-network hydrogel was prepared by embedding an initiator (HHy-Br) and reinforcing with Fe3+, followed by grafting the antifouling polymer (PSBVI) onto the HHy-Br substrate via subsurface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (sSIATRP) to obtain HHy-PSBVI. Fe3+ increased the crosslinking density of HHy-Br, resulting in improved tensile strength and anti-swelling properties of the hydrogel. The presence of Fe3+ also promoted the sSIATRP process. HHy-PSBVI exhibited decreased friction coefficient and excellent antibacterial and antifouling properties due to the hydration of the zwitterionic polymer and the bactericidal effect of the cationic imidazole group.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Aikaterini A. Galata, Martin Kroger
Summary: Protein adsorption dynamics were investigated using a coarse-grained model, revealing that polymer grafting density is the most crucial factor affecting adsorption efficiency. The size and hydrophobicity of the protein also play a role. Ligands and attractive tethering surfaces were found to influence primary, secondary, and ternary adsorption. Adsorption percentage, rate, protein shape, and potential of mean force were recorded to compare different scenarios.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yonglan Liu, Dong Zhang, Yijing Tang, Yanxian Zhang, Xiong Gong, Shaowen Xie, Jie Zheng
Summary: This study developed a data-driven, machine learning workflow combined with a benchmark dataset to discover the antifouling property of existing polymer brushes and design new ones. The resulting machine learning models showed reliability, predictivity, and established composition-structure-property relationships.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jesna Ashraf, Sandy Lau, Alireza Akbarinejad, Clive W. Evans, David E. Williams, David Barker, Jadranka Travas-Sejdic
Summary: In this study, antifouling biointerfaces were achieved by grafting polymer brushes onto conductive fiber mats. The grafted mats exhibited excellent antifouling efficiency and high cell viability.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Liu Chun-Jie, Zhao Xin-Jun, Gao Zhi-Fu, Jiang Zhong-Ying
Summary: A new theoretical model is established to investigate the dynamic properties of protein adsorption/desorption in a polymer mixed brush, showing that the microenvironment has a significant influence on the process. When an alternating electric field is applied, a stable periodic cycle of protein adsorption and desorption by the brush is observed, leading to increased adsorption and desorption capacities. These findings provide insights into controllable protein adsorption/desorption by the brush in practical applications.
ACTA PHYSICA SINICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amir Beheshti, Yun Huang, Idriss Blakey, Jason R. Stokes
Summary: It is hypothesized that modifying surfaces with concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) can effectively reduce the friction of tribo-pairs lubricated with liquids. The study investigates the deposition of hybrid colloids grafted with CPBs on tribo-substrates by varying the solvent quality, aiming to achieve ultra-low coefficients of friction (CoFs) or superlubricity. The experiments reveal that the degree of swelling of CPBs and the coverage of deposited colloids play a crucial role in the lubrication enhancement, with the spontaneously adsorbed colloids exhibiting the greatest improvement.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Lin Chen, Lin Li, Xu Zhao, Shuangshuang Wang, Yuchao Li, Guang Li, Xiangcai Ge, Liping Wang
Summary: Fluorine-containing polymer brushes were grafted onto functionalized stainless steel using ARGET-ATRP and thiol-epoxy click reaction, resulting in surfaces with low surface free energy and high hydrophobicity. The modified surfaces showed lower protein adsorption compared to pristine surfaces, suggesting potential as environmentally friendly antifouling coatings.
REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chaoshi Chen, Muhammad Atif, Kang He, Miao Zhang, Lijuan Chen, Yanmei Wang
Summary: In this study, binary mixed polymer brushes were successfully fabricated to control protein adsorption by adjusting the environmental temperature. The optimum molar mass of PSt block facilitated protein adsorption in large quantities below the LCST of PNIPAM and resistance to protein adsorption above the LCST.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yonglan Liu, Dong Zhang, Yijing Tang, Yanxian Zhang, Yung Chang, Jie Zheng
Summary: A data-driven machine learning model was developed to computationally design highly antifouling self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), demonstrating robustness and predictive ability. Experimental validation confirmed the accuracy of the model predictions, showcasing its potential for accelerating the discovery and understanding of functional materials for next-generation antifouling surfaces.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Kaili Wang, Yuxia Zhai, Shiyu Dong, Jianzhuang Liu, Donglei Wei, Hou Chen, Liangjiu Bai, Huawei Yang, Lixia Yang, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: A biomass-based polymer brush-on-brush composite was synthesized for the removal of Cu(II) in aqueous media. The composite, utilizing cellulose abstracted from apple residue as the matrix, exhibited good adsorption selectivity and capacity on Cu(II) towards other metal ions. Moreover, the composite can be reused multiple times, providing a new approach for the high value-added utilization of fruit residues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meenakshi Verma, Abhishek Rana, Koyyana E. Ch Vidyasagar, Dinesh Kalyansundaram, Sampa Saha
Summary: This study reports a facile and scalable approach to create microtextured polymer brushes using a nanosecond fiber laser on a Ti alloy substrate, which can generate different types of protein patterns and alternate patterns of bacteria.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
