Polymeric multilayer thin films, assembled via layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of interacting species, have since their advent in the early nineties attracted major attention by scientist active in different fields of research. Whereas initially LbL assembly involved the use of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes there is a steady interest in hydrogen-bonded multilayers. Hydrogen bonded multilayer films based on tannic acid (TA), a naturally occurring polyphenol, are stable over a wide pH range (i.e. pH 2-11), while the multitude of phenolic groups on the TA form strong complexes with neutral polymers bearing ether, ester or amide bonds. Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazolines) are an attractive class of neutral hydrophilic polymers that are highly biocompatible and that can be engineered with tailored temperature-responsive properties by varying the nature of the alkyl side chains. Here we report on multilayer thin film formation based on hydrogen bonding between TA and Poly(n-propyl-2-oxazoline). In particular we demonstrate that both below its TCP of 25 �C, with the polymer chains being in extended state, and above the TCP, with the polymer chains being in collapsed aggregated state, multilayer formation with TA is possible. Such multilayers could find interesting applications for the design of functional coatings.

Hydrogen bonded polymeric multilayer films assembled below and above the cloud point temperature

248th National Meeting (2014)

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