Contact
    Start Publications Betulin-Constituted Multiblock Amphiphiles for Broad-Spectrum ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    QSense

    Betulin-Constituted Multiblock Amphiphiles for Broad-Spectrum Protein Resistance

    Year: 2018

    Journal: ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Volume 10, FEB 21, page 6593–6600

    Authors: Chen, Ye; Song, Qilei; Zhao, Junpeng; Gong, Xiangjun; Schlaad, Helmut; Zhang, Guangzhao

    Keywords: amphiphilic surface; antifouling; multiblock copolymer; organocatalytic polymerization; renewable resource

    Multiblock-like amphiphilic polyurethanes constituted by poly(ethylene oxide) and biosourced betulin are designed for antifouling and synthesized by a convenient organocatalytic route comprising tandem chain-growth and step-growth polymerizations. The doping density of betulin (D-B) in the polymer chain structure is readily varied by a mixed-initiator strategy. The spin-coated polymer films exhibit unique nanophase separation and protein resistance behaviors. Higher D-B leads to enhanced surface hydrophobicity and, unexpectedly, improved protein resistance. It is found that the surface holds molecular-level heterogeneity when D-B is substantially high due to restricted phase separation; therefore, broad-spectrum protein resistance is achieved despite considerable surface hydrophobicity. As D-B decreases, the distance between adjacent betulin units increases so that hydrophobic nanodomains are formed, which provide enough landing areas for relatively small-sized proteins to adsorb on the surface.
    View publication