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Photoimageable Organic Coating Bearing Cyclic Dithiocarbonate for a Multifunctional Surface
Sol An1, Jieun Nam1, Catherine Kanimozhi2
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 20, 2022
Summary
Researchers created photocross-linkable polymer films with tunable surface chemistry using reactive cyclic dithiocarbonate (DTC) copolymers. Light exposure precisely defined material functionalities, enabling controlled immobilization of molecules like proteins.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Developing photocross-linkable and surface-functionalizable polymeric materials is crucial for advanced applications.
- Precisely controlling surface chemistry with light offers precise patterning and molecule immobilization capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate photocross-linkable and surface-functionalizable polymeric thin films using reactive cyclic dithiocarbonate (DTC)-containing copolymers.
- To precisely define material surface functionalities using light illumination.
- To demonstrate the controlled immobilization of complex molecules onto patterned surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of DTC copolymers (poly(dithiocarbonate methylene methacrylate-random-alkyl methacrylate)s) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.
- Cross-linking of copolymers using a bifunctional urethane cross-linker with a photolabile o-nitrobenzyl group.
- Surface functionalization via light-induced aniline release, nucleophilic attack on DTC groups, and subsequent reactions (thiol-ene, carbodiimide coupling).
- Quantitative analysis of surface functionalities using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Main Results:
- Photocross-linkable and surface-functionalizable polymeric thin films were successfully fabricated.
- Surface functionalities (DTC, thiol, carboxylic acid) were precisely controlled by varying copolymer and cross-linker amounts.
- Demonstrated successful transformations of surface groups and immobilization of a fluorophore and a protein in defined regions.
Conclusions:
- The developed DTC copolymers and cross-linking strategy enable precise, light-defined surface functionalization of polymeric films.
- The versatile surface chemistry allows for ambient condition modification and immobilization of complex biomolecules.
- This approach holds significant potential for creating advanced organic coatings with multiple, precisely controlled functional groups.
