Chapter 5
Tailored Biointerfaces via Derivatization
of Polystyrene-b-Poly(Tert-Butyl
Acrylate) Thin Films
The investigation of polystyrene-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 ) films
and their derivatization to obtain tailored biointerfaces is presented in this chapter.
Derivatized PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 polymer films show good stability under a broad
range of conditions. Hydrolysis of the reactive t-butyl acrylate ester groups was
performed in trifluoracetic acid, hydrochloric acid solution, and in HCl gas phase.
After the subsequent activation by N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester groups, a
variety of amino-functionalized (bio)molecules can be covalently immobilized on the
hydrolyzed surfaces. The reactivity of the PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 films and in particular the
controllable loading with amino-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) were studied
by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Subsequently, the immobilization of biologically relevant molecules, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA)
and poly(L)lysine (PLL), on PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 films was studied by fluorescence
microscopy. To demonstrate possible applications of the PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 -based
platform as biointerfaces, hybridization of target DNA with immobilized probe DNA,
as well as the interaction of two different types of cells, i.e., K562 and pancreatic
cancer cells, on functionalized PS-b-PtBA films was investigated.
5.1 Introduction
The design of interfaces between the biological environment and various
(bio)materials is often an important determinant of the ultimate biomaterial performance [1]. Biointerfaces are central to biology and medicine and are crucial for
implants, biosensors, drug delivery, proteomics, and many other fields [2]. In
particular, biointerfaces play an important role in cell engineering in the field of
microfabrication [3].
In general, cells can be divided into two types: prokaryotic cells, which lack a
defined nucleus and have a simplified internal organization; and eukaryotic cells,
© Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press 2021
C. Feng et al., Microfabrication of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6869-9_5
91
Tailored Biointerfaces via Derivatization
of Polystyrene-b-Poly(Tert-Butyl
Acrylate) Thin Films
The investigation of polystyrene-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 ) films
and their derivatization to obtain tailored biointerfaces is presented in this chapter.
Derivatized PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 polymer films show good stability under a broad
range of conditions. Hydrolysis of the reactive t-butyl acrylate ester groups was
performed in trifluoracetic acid, hydrochloric acid solution, and in HCl gas phase.
After the subsequent activation by N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester groups, a
variety of amino-functionalized (bio)molecules can be covalently immobilized on the
hydrolyzed surfaces. The reactivity of the PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 films and in particular the
controllable loading with amino-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) were studied
by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Subsequently, the immobilization of biologically relevant molecules, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA)
and poly(L)lysine (PLL), on PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 films was studied by fluorescence
microscopy. To demonstrate possible applications of the PS 690 -b-PtBA 1210 -based
platform as biointerfaces, hybridization of target DNA with immobilized probe DNA,
as well as the interaction of two different types of cells, i.e., K562 and pancreatic
cancer cells, on functionalized PS-b-PtBA films was investigated.
5.1 Introduction
The design of interfaces between the biological environment and various
(bio)materials is often an important determinant of the ultimate biomaterial performance [1]. Biointerfaces are central to biology and medicine and are crucial for
implants, biosensors, drug delivery, proteomics, and many other fields [2]. In
particular, biointerfaces play an important role in cell engineering in the field of
microfabrication [3].
In general, cells can be divided into two types: prokaryotic cells, which lack a
defined nucleus and have a simplified internal organization; and eukaryotic cells,
© Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press 2021
C. Feng et al., Microfabrication of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6869-9_5
91