Design and synthesis of Y-shaped triblock copolymer for enhanced antibiofouling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics

Developing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials with superior antibiofouling properties is essential for their application in biomedical fields. Although blending PVC with functional polymers has emerged as a promising strategy, current approaches often focus on single-function polymers or simple structures, neglecting the synergistic effects of multifunctional blocks and the influence of polymer topology. In this study, a novel Y-shaped triblock copolymer, Y-PCL-PF-PG, was designed and synthesized, comprising a fouling-release low-surface-energy polyhexafluorobutyl acrylate (PF) block, a fouling-resistant hydrophilic poly(methacrylate polyethylene glycol) (PG) block, and a PVC-compatible polycaprolactone (PCL) block. Linear counterparts, including L-PCL-PF-PG, PCL-PF, and PCL-PG, were also synthesized for comparison. These copolymers were blended with PVC to fabricate plastic films, which were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrated that the films exhibited excellent thermal and mechanical properties. Antibiofouling performance was evaluated through protein adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and platelet adhesion tests. Films incorporating copolymers with both PF and PG blocks showed significantly enhanced antifouling performance compared to those with single-function blocks, highlighting the synergistic effect of the PF and PG components. Furthermore, the Y-shaped copolymer (Y-PCL-PF-PG) outperformed its linear counterpart (L-PCL-PF-PG), underscoring the critical role of copolymer topology in antibiofouling performance. This study provides valuable insights into the design of high-performance antibiofouling PVC materials and offers a theoretical foundation for their development in biomedical applications.