Ultralow Fouling and Functionalizable Surface Chemistry Based on Zwitterionic Carboxybetaine Random Copolymers

Abstract

Here, we report a simple, yet effective surface modification approach to impart hydrophobic surfaces with super-hydrophilicity using ultra-low fouling/functionalizable carboxybetaine (CB) copolymers via a dip-coating technique. A new series of CB random copolymers with varying amphiphilicities were synthesized and coated on hydrophobic polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) surfaces. Nonfouling capability of each coating was screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and further comprehensively assessed against 100% human serum by Micro BCA protein assay kit. The random copolymer containing ~30 mol% of CB unit showed superhydrophilicity with the highest air contact angle of more than 165° in DI water and the best nonfouling capability against 100% human blood serum. Surfaces of a 96-well plate coated with the optimal CB random copolymer showed significantly better nonfouling capability than those of a commercial 96-well plate with an ultra-low attachment surface. Adhesion of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3) was completely inhibited on surfaces coated with CB random copolymers. Furthermore, the optimal nonfouling CB copolymer surface was functionalized with an antigen via covalent bonding where its specific interactions with its antibody were verified. Thus, this CB random copolymer is capable of imparting both ultra-low fouling and functionalizable capabilities to hydrophobic surfaces for blood-contacting devices.

Romantic Surfaces: A Systematic Overview of Stable, Biospecific, and Antifouling Zwitterionic Surfaces

“…Jiang and co-workers had demonstrated the versatility of this platform for other applications such as glucose biosensors, 63 silicon microring resonators for label-free biosensing, 64 paper-based sensors, 65 and 96-microwell plates. 66…”

Modulation of Living Cell Behavior with Ultra‐Low Fouling Polymer Brush Interfaces

“…A great portion of such rapidly developing technologies such as bioanalytical and medical devices, biosensors, microarrays, and bio‐imaging technologies are aimed to be used in a direct contact with complex biological media such as cell‐containing media and clinical samples of bodily fluids. Therefore, an intensive research and development of new ultra‐low fouling (or so‐called “antifouling”) coatings and materials has been evidenced worldwide 2–4. A specific attention has been paid to antifouling coatings that simultaneously facilitate active target surface functionalities such as biorecognition and the capture of target molecules present in the media 2…”

“…Well‐defined ultra‐low fouling coatings with minimum background nonspecific binding even from complex biological media represent an attractive approach to elucidate the effects of surface physicochemical properties on cellular behavior. Several recent studies dealing with ultra‐low fouling surface–cell interactions focused on a specific application without aiming to generalize the observed surface–cell effects 4,18–21. Some complex surface–cell relationships have been recently reported—the ultra‐low fouling surface wettability (or hydrophilicity),22,23 hydration and layer thickness,24–26 zwitterionization,27 and charge, and the presence of various functional groups28 have been shown to influence cellular behavior.…”

Functionalizable Antifouling Coatings as Tunable Platforms for the Stress-Driven Manipulation of Living Cell Machinery

“…The more cells are spread, the more YAP is activated and localized in the nucleus [ 14 , 46 ]. The pCB-based antifouling coatings without any RGD moiety are not preferable surfaces for adhesion; cells tend to have rather round shapes compared to the standard controls [ 31 , 47 ]. The more spots of adhesion that are presented, the more cells are spreading on the surface, increasing the amount of YAP in the nucleus ( Figure 2 , Figure S5 , and Figure 3 ).…”