Stimuli-responsive polymer brushes are of high interest for biotechnological and biomedical applications. Such brushes are functional surfaces for control of wettability, adhesion, friction, protein adsorption, and cell or bacteria growth. We discuss exemplarily the ellipsometric characterization of three different types of brushes: polyelectrolyte mono- poly(acrylic acid) and mixed poly(acrylic acid)-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) brushes which show pH dependence as well as poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide brush which is thermoresponsive. The stimuli dependent adsorption of proteins at such brushes changes in dependence of the surface and film properties. PAA mono brushes vary their chemical structure and swelling degree in dependence of pH and thereby can tune adsorption and desorption behavior for proteins and cells. In the recent years ellipsometry from Vis to IR spectral range has been applied for in-situ studies of the switching behavior, structural and chemical changes and adsorption and release of proteins in dependence of the external stimuli.

Ellipsometry for study of smart polymer brushes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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