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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
A Fluorescence-based Protocol for Preliminary Screening of Protein Synthesis Inhibitors from Natural Sources
Published on: January 27, 2026
A new combinatorial method for synthesizing, screening, and discovering antifouling surface chemistries.
Joseph Imbrogno1, Matthew D Williams, Georges Belfort
1Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , Troy, New York 12180, United States.
Researchers developed novel monomers using combinatorial chemistry for advanced nonfouling surfaces. These new materials significantly reduce protein adhesion on membranes, outperforming existing technologies for applications like filtration and medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- Biological fouling is a significant challenge in marine, medical, and industrial applications.
- Existing nonfouling surfaces, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), have limitations.
- Developing new, effective antifouling materials is crucial for technological advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and screen a diverse library of novel monomers for superior antifouling properties.
- To graft-polymerize these monomers onto poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes.
- To evaluate the performance of modified membranes in reducing protein adsorption and maintaining permeability.
Main Methods:
- Combinatorial chemistry was used to synthesize a library of vinyl ester monomers with various functional groups (e.g., carboxylic acid, zwitterionic, ester, hydroxyl).
- Atmospheric-pressure plasma polymerization was employed to graft-polymerize these monomers onto PES membranes.
- Static and dynamic fouling tests were conducted to assess protein adsorption and membrane permeability.
- Hansen solubility parameters were used to predict monomer performance.
Main Results:
- Membranes functionalized with carboxylic acid, zwitterionic, and ester groups exhibited significantly lower protein adhesion in static tests.
- These functional groups, along with hydroxyl groups, maintained the highest membrane permeability under dynamic fouling conditions.
- The novel monomers outperformed previously synthesized amide and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) monomers in antifouling efficacy.
- Hansen solubility parameters qualitatively correlated with observed antifouling performance, suggesting favorable interactions with water.
Conclusions:
- A versatile platform for creating advanced nonfouling surfaces was established using combinatorial chemistry and plasma polymerization.
- The newly developed monomers offer superior performance compared to existing antifouling materials.
- These findings have broad implications for applications requiring resistance to biofouling, including filtration membranes and biomedical devices.
