The growing need to develop surfaces able to effectively resist biological fouling has resulted in the widespread investigation of nanomaterials with potential antifouling properties. The ability of colloids and nanoparticles to be functionalised with a range of polymer chemistries is allowing the tuning of surface properties with fine control over the presentation of chemistries at the material interface. Here, we report the functionalisation of silica nanoparticles with a zwitterionic silinated sulfobetaine monomer for the preparation of hydrophilic low fouling coatings. Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) is presented as a new method through which to optimise self-assembly of sulfobetaine onto silica nanoparticles deposited as thin films, as a model towards solution based nanoparticle functionalisation. Functionalisation of nanoparticle films occurs rapidily and could be achieved over a wide pH range and at low zwitterion concentrations. Similarly, functionalisation of silica nanoparticle suspensions could be achieved under aqueous conditions with moderate grafting densities. Zwitterated particles were used to prepare hydrophilic coatings via a simple spin-coating process. All functionalised particle surfaces presented a high degree of wettability and resulted in large reductions in adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. Prepared particle surfaces also showed a reduction in adhesion of fungal spores (<i>Epicoccum nigrum</i>) by up to 87%. These results indicate the potential for functionalised nanosilicas to be further developed as versatile fouling resistant coatings that are highly scalable, able to be deposited using a range of coating techniques (e.g. spray coating, inject printing), and are suitable for use in diverse applications including biomedical and aquatic based industries.

Self-assembly of zwitterionic sulfobetaine siloxane onto silica nanoparticles for application as a versatile antifouling coating system

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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