Polymer brushes are ideal materials for interfacing with biological systems as they share many of the same molecular components and properties. Polymer brushes, or surface tethered polymers, provide remarkable screening power in shielding a substrate from the environment through both steric and charge interactions. However, the majority of biomolecular species will still non-specifically bind to polymer brush surfaces unless some care is given to molecular design. We have recently explored the effect of brush thickness on non-specific binding and cellular attachment. Several polymer brush systems are described to control interaction of biomacromolecules and cells by design of specific and non-specific interactions in polymer brush architectures. “Grown from” and block copolymer brushes are discussed, both of which provide excellent substrates for study of brush surfaces. Nanostructured polymer “carpets” are also reported. Examples of polymer brushes used for sensor creation and for investigation of cellular interaction are provided. Brushes used in non-fouling coatings tailored for marine applications and in which amphiphilic structures play an important role are discussed.

Polymer brushes: Versatile 2D materials for interface engineering

249th National Meeting (2015)

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