Stimuli-Responsive Zwitterionic Core–Shell Microgels for Antifouling Surface Coatings

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 12, pp. 58223–58238

Abstract

Fouling on filtration membranes is induced by the nonspecific interactions between the membrane surface and the foulants, and effectively hinders their efficient use in various applications. Here, we established a facile method for the coating of membrane surface with a dual stimuli-responsive antifouling microgel system enriched with a high polyzwitterion content. Different poly(sulfobetaine) (PSB) zwitterionic polymers with defined molecular weights and narrow dispersities were synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and integrated onto poly( N -vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) microgels via a controlled dosage of a cross-linker, adapting a precipitation polymerization technique to obtain a core–shell microstructure. Increasing the PSB macro-RAFT concentration resulted in a shift of both upper critical solution temperature and lower critical solution temperature toward higher temperatures. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy at different temperatures suggested the formation of a core–shell morphology with a PVCL-rich core and a PSB-rich shell. On the other hand, the significant variations of different characteristic proton signals and reversible phase transitions of the microgel constituents were confirmed by temperature-dependent 1 H NMR studies. Utilizing a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, we have been able to observe and quantitatively describe the antipolyelectrolyte behavior of the zwitterionic microgels. The oscillation frequency of the sensor proved to change reversibly according to the variations of the NaCl concentration, showing, in fact, the effect of the interaction between the salt and the opposite charges present in the microgel deposited on the sensor. Poly(ethersulfone) membranes, chosen as the model surface, when functionalized with zwitterionic microgel coatings, displayed protein-repelling property, stimulated by different transition temperatures, and showed even better performances at increasing NaCl concentration. These kinds of stimuli-responsive zwitterionic microgel can act as temperature-triggered drug delivery systems and as potential coating materials to prevent bioadhesion and biofouling as well.

Authors 10

1. Pabitra Saha Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

2. Marta Santi Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

3. Meike Emondts Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

4. Hannah Roth Aachen Chemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

5. Khosrow Rahimi Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

6. Johannes Großkurth Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

7. Ritabrata Ganguly

   Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

   Affiliation as printed

   Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India

8. Matthias Weßling corresponding Aachen Chemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemical Process Engineering AVT.CVT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany

   DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

9. Nikhil K. Singha corresponding

   Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

   Affiliation as printed

   Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India

10. Andrij Pich corresponding Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

    Maastricht University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6229 GT, The Netherlands

    DWI—Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen 52056, Germany

    Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany