10.5286/ISIS.E/ISIS.E.RB1800016
Professor Emil Chibowski
Dr Mario Campana
Dr Aleksandra Szczes
Miss Yingdi Yan
Neutron Reflectivity Study of Protein Adsorption onto Cell Membrane-inspired Anti-Fouling Phospholipid Polymer Brush Surface
ISIS Facility
2017
STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Data
10.5286/ISIS.E.88602240
We grafted 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer brush from the silicon wafer surface through Cu (0) mediated controlled radical polymerization (CuCRP) to mimic cell membrance. Excellent control over graft density and film thickness was acheived by reaction condition variation. An optimal thickness of PMPC for protein resistance was estabilished. The adsorption then was found to increase together with the PMPC thickness. This can be either attributed to an increased surface adsorption or to protein penetration within the structure.In order to progress our understanding of the system further, we need to determine the protein distribution across the PMPC layer as a function of both protein concentration and graft density. Because of the advantage offered by contrast variation and the Ã…ngstrom resolution, neutron reflectivity is the ideal technique to study these systems.