Synthesis of non-fouling poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] brushes by photoinduced SET-LRP

Abstract

Surface-initiated photoinduced single-electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) was employed to assemble brushes of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] (poly(HPMA)) from silicon surfaces. The linear increase in thickness of the poly(HPMA) brushes with time and the ability to prepare block copolymers indicate the living nature of this grafting-from process. Copper concentrations as low as 80 ppb were sufficient for this surface-initiated SET-LRP. Micropatterns of poly(HPMA) brushes on the silicon surface were constructed for the first time by this method. Negligible fouling was observed after contact with undiluted blood plasma. This report provides the first example of non-fouling polymer brushes prepared by SET-LRP of HPMA.