Scratch resistant non-fouling surfaces via grafting non-fouling polymers on the pore walls of supported porous oxide structures

Abstract

Non-fouling polymer films have a wide application potential spanning the areas of biotechnology, smart implants and submerse maritime surfaces. The films reported hitherto are, however, ultrathin and lack the mechanical strength and scratch resistance that could qualify them for technological applications. Herein we report on non-fouling polymer nanofilms that are grafted onto the pore walls of supported porous oxide structures that confer to them the lacking scratch resistance. We use two kinds of supported porous oxides. For transparent non-fouling nanocomposites with potential applications for displays and as windows for submerse optical sensors, we take advantage of supported anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) on glass while for potential medical applications requiring non-fouling properties TiO2 nanotubes on titanium sheets are used. Because the porous structures possess a huge effective surface area, a high grafting density can be expected with positive impact on the properties. The process involves Atom transfer radical polymerization for the polymerization of non-fouling poly(oligo ethyleneglycol) methylether methacrylate brushes. As a linker molecule an amino-silane is evaporated into the porous structures using chemical vapour deposition. The non-fouling properties are demonstrated on patterned surfaces using both FTIC labelled BSA and adherent fibroblast cells. Scratch resistance is also demonstrated. Keywords: Porous aluminium- and titanium oxide, Pore walls, Grafting of polymer brushes, Antifouling surface, Scratch resistance