Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a semiaromatic thermoplastic polyester used in many fields. For specific applications, controlled of the surface wettability (hydrophily/hydrophoby) could be a great challenge. Aminolysis of PET surfaces with branched polyethylenimine gives amino functional groups on the surface with high grafting density. Then, in a second step, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator was grafted by reaction with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. Surface initiated ATRP of 2-lactobionamidoethyl methacrylate (LAMA) was performed in solution in the presence of a sacrificial initiator or an appropriate amount of Cu(II) species that act as deactivator. The efficiency of all reactions was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Wetting properties and surface energy were found to vary systematically depending to the type of functionalization and grafting. The quantity of grafted carbohydrate was determined by phenol/sulfuric acid colorimetric titration. The sugar graft density was observed to vary according to the ratio (monomer)/(free initiator). High graft density could be obtained yielding to superhydrophilic polymer brushes.

The affinity of AtO + for around 20 model ligands (L), carrying functionalized oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen atoms, has been assessed through a combined experimental and theoretical methodology. Significant equilibrium constants (K L ∼ 10 4 ) have been measured for sulfur-containing compounds, in agreement with the previously highlighted, relatively stable radiolabeling of SH-containing proteins with 211 At. Conversely, no interaction occurs in the aqueous phase for their oxygenated counterparts, but higher affinities (K L > 10 6 ) have been determined for nitrogen-based ligands, including aromatic nitrogen heterocycles. The quantum mechanical calculations definitively ruled out any rationale based on either the metallic character of astatine or its guessed softness; the favored interactions all involve specifically the oxygen atom of AtO + , leading to the formation of covalent O−S or O−C single bonds.