Low Fouling Polysulfobetaines with Variable Hydrophobic Content.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• Biofouling poses significant challenges in marine and biomedical applications.
• Amphiphilic polymer coatings, particularly those with zwitterionic groups, are promising for anti-fouling strategies.
• The impact of hydrophobic content on zwitterionic coating performance requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of hydrophobic content in zwitterionic coatings on interfacial dynamics and anti-fouling properties.
• To synthesize and characterize amphiphilic copolymers of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SPE) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA).
• To compare the fouling resistance of these copolymers with their respective homopolymers.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of photo-crosslinked hydrogel films of SPE-BMA copolymers with varying BMA content.
• Assessment of protein (fibrinogen, lysozyme) and microorganism (Navicula perminuta, Ulva linza) fouling in laboratory assays.
• Evaluation of anti-fouling performance in preliminary field tests in a marine environment.

Main Results:

• All zwitterionic coatings demonstrated significant biofouling reduction.
• Amphiphilic SPE-BMA copolymers exhibited superior fouling resistance compared to homopolymers (PSPE and PBMA).
• Improved performance in marine environments was linked to reduced silt incorporation, especially compared to highly hydrophilic polyzwitterions.

Conclusions:

• Amphiphilic zwitterionic copolymers offer enhanced anti-fouling properties.
• Optimizing the balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components is crucial for effective biofouling control.
• These findings have implications for developing advanced anti-fouling coatings for diverse applications.