POS8-0664
N-oxide-Based Zwitterionic Polymer Coatings for Antifouling Surface Modification
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Minjae Kim (Chungnam National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Biofouling on implanted medical devices can lead to secondary infections and thrombosis, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies. Recently, N-oxide-based polymers have emerged as a new class of zwitterion-like antifouling materials, exhibiting strong hydration characteristics comparable to conventional zwitterionic polymers while offering synthetic versatility. In this study, an N-oxide-based monomer was synthesized by oxidizing the amine group of 2-(Diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, followed by free radical polymerization to obtain polymers with different molecular weight. The molecular weight was controlled by adjusting the polymerization time. The chemical structure of the synthesized monomer and polymers were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy, while their molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). To investigate the effect of molecular weight on antifouling performance, the N-oxide polymers were immobilized on silicon substrates through layer-by-layer assembly using poly(dopamine) and Zr (IV) ions as coordination-mediated interfacial linkers. Surface characterization by ellipsometry, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful coating formation. The N-oxide polymer coatings significantly reduced E. coli adhesion compared with uncoated controls, demonstrating their effective antifouling properties. Furthermore, this coating approach was successfully applied to various substrates, indicating its substrate-independent nature and broad applicability. These results suggest that N-oxide polymer coatings offer a versatile and effective platform for preventing biofouling on diverse medical device surfaces.
