Protein-resistant surface coatings formed by mixed polymer brushes of fluorosiloxane and zwitterion

Non-specific protein adsorption on material surfaces is a critical challenge in the fields of biomedicine applications, often compromising device functionality and causing potential health risks. To address this challenge, a series of amphiphilic mixed brush coatings composed of hydrophilic poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCBMA) and hydrophobic poly[methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)siloxane] (PMTFPS) were designed and prepared. The surface restructuring behaviors of these mixed brushes affect their synergistic antifouling effects, resulting in distinctly different protein-resistant properties. When the PCBMA chains are shorter than the PMTFPS chains and the grafting density of PCBMA is moderately higher than that of PMTFPS, the mixed brushes exhibit excellent protein adsorption resistance after both dry and wet treatments. The presence of a suitable number of PMTFPS chains on the surface not only provides the fouling-release property but also minimizes the disturbance on hydration from protein contact, thereby maximizing synergistic antifouling effects. This work can provide unique insight for designing brush coatings with excellent protein-resistant performance in the future.