Control of interfacial adsorption events plays a critical role in the success of many applications. Left uncontrolled, non-specific adsorption of proteins, bacteria, and other organisms on device surfaces severely impair function. Examples range from thrombogenesis in blood contacting devices1 to bacterial biofilm formation in the waterlines of the International Space Station In recent years, considerable experimental effort has been devoted to the development of strategies to reduce biofouling, largely through the immobilization of antifouling polymers on surfaces Numerous polymer tethering approaches have been proposed, but few have met with success on surfaces of varying chemistry. In those surface modification methods which have been demonstrated on multiple materials, the nature of the film-substrate interaction and method of preparation allows room for improvement.
展开▼
