Rapid Construction of Liquid-like Surfaces via Single-Cycle Polymer Brush Grafting for Enhanced Antifouling in Microfluidic Systems

Abstract

Liquid-like surfaces have demonstrated immense potential in their ability to resist cell adhesion, a critical requirement for numerous applications across various domains. However, the conventional methodologies for preparing liquid-like surfaces often entail a complex multi-step polymer brush modification process, which is not only time-consuming but also presents significant challenges. In this work, we developed a single-cycle polymer brush modification strategy to build liquid-like surfaces by leveraging high-molecular-weight bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, which significantly simplifies the preparation process. The resultant liquid-like surface is endowed with exceptional slipperiness, effectively inhibiting bacterial colonization and diminishing the adherence of platelets. Moreover, it offers promising implications for reducing the dependency on anticoagulants in microfluidic systems constructed from PDMS, all while sustaining its antithrombotic attributes.

Keywords

• liquid-like surface
• slippery
• antifouling
• microfluidics