Monolayers of Poly(styrene/α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) Microparticles Formed by Controlled Self-Assembly with Potential Application as Protein-Repelling Substrates

The kinetics of the self-assembly of poly(styrene/α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microparticles on poly(allylamine hydrochloride)-derivatized silicon/silica substrate was determined by direct AFM imaging and streaming potential (SP) measurements. The kinetic runs acquired under diffusion-controlled transport were quantitatively interpreted in terms of the extended random sequential adsorption (RSA) model. This allowed confirmation of a core/shell morphology of the microparticles. The polyglycidol-rich shell of thickness equal to 25 nm exhibited a fuzzy structure that enabled penetration of particles into each other resulting in high coverage inaccessible for ordinary microparticles. The SP measurements interpreted by using the 3D electrokinetic model confirmed this microparticle structure. Additionally, the acid-base characteristics of the microparticle monolayers were determined for a broad pH range. By using the streaming potential measurements, human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption on the microparticle monolayers was investigated under in situ conditions. It was confirmed that the protein adsorption was considerably lower than for the reference case of bare silicon/silica substrate under the same physicochemical conditions. This effect was attributed to the presence of the shell diminishing the protein/microparticle physical interactions.