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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Fabricating Reactive Surfaces with Brush-like and Crosslinked Films of Azlactone-Functionalized Block Co-Polymers
Published on: June 30, 2018
Assembly and degradation of low-fouling click-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-based multilayer films and
Melissa K M Leung1, Georgina K Such, Angus P R Johnston
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Abstract:
Nano-/micrometer-scaled films and capsules made of low-fouling materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are of interest for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Herein, the assembly and degradation of low-fouling, alkyne-functionalized PEG (PEG(Alk) ) multilayer films and capsules, which are prepared by combining layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly and click chemistry, are reported. A nonlinear, temperature-responsive PEG(Alk) is synthesized, and is then used to form hydrogen-bonded multilayers with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) at pH 5. The thermoresponsive behavior of PEG(Alk) is exploited to tailor film buildup by adjusting the assembly conditions. Using alkyne-azide click chemistry, PEG(Alk)/PMA multilayers are crosslinked with a bisazide linker that contains a disulfide bond, rendering these films and capsules redox-responsive. At pH 7, by disrupting the hydrogen bonding between the polymers, PEG(Alk) LbL films and PEG(Alk) -based capsules are obtained. These films exhibit specific deconstruction properties under simulated intracellular reducing conditions, but remain stable at physiological pH, suggesting potential applications in controlled drug release. The low-fouling properties of the PEG films are confirmed by incubation with human serum and a blood clot. Additionally, these capsules showed negligible toxicity to human cells.
