Amphiphilic Random Copolymers Consisting of Styrene, EGMA, and HEMA for Anti-Biofouling Coatings

Abstract

Amphiphilic random copolymers consisting of hydrophobic styrene and hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)/(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (EGMA) were designed and synthesized for anti-biofouling coating materials in buffered aqueous solutions. Random copolymers such as PS-PEGMA, PS-PHEMA, and PS-PEGMA-PHEMA were synthesized, with different monomer ratios, by radical polymerization. The structures and molecular weights of the synthesized polymers were determined by ¹H-NMR and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. Protein adsorption experiments on the polymer surfaces were carried out using fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate-labeled bovine serum albumin. Experimental results suggest that the surfaces of the amphiphilic random copolymers have a good anti-biofouling effect.

Keywords:

• biofouling
• amphiphilic random copolymers
• protein adsorption
• TBT
• BSA

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government through GCRC-SOP (No. 2011-0030013).