A Versatile Approach for the Synthesis of Antimicrobial Polymer Brushes on Natural Rubber/Graphene Oxide Composite Films via Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization
Wenya Zhu,
Bangsen Li,
Jinrui Liu,
Shishu Sun,
Yan Zhang,
Dashuai Zhang,
Chen Li,
Tianyi Sun,
Huaide Qin,
Jianjun Shi,
Zaifeng Shi
Affiliations
Wenya Zhu
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Bangsen Li
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Jinrui Liu
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Shishu Sun
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Yan Zhang
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Dashuai Zhang
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Chen Li
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Tianyi Sun
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Huaide Qin
Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
Jianjun Shi
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
Zaifeng Shi
Collage of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
A simple strategy was adopted for the preparation of an antimicrobial natural rubber/graphene oxide (NR/GO) composite film modified through the use of zwitterionic polymer brushes. An NR/GO composite film with antibacterial properties was prepared using a water-based solution-casting method. The composited GO was dispersed uniformly in the NR matrix and compensated for mechanical loss in the process of modification. Based on the high bromination activity of α–H in the structure of cis-polyisoprene, the composite films were brominated on the surface through the use of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under the irradiation of a 40 W tungsten lamp. Polymerization was carried out on the brominated films using sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) as a monomer via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The NR/GO composite films modified using polymer brushes (PSBMAs) exhibited 99.99% antimicrobial activity for resistance to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A novel polymer modification strategy for NR composite materials was established effectively, and the enhanced antimicrobial properties expand the application prospects in the medical field.
