One-step zwitterionization and quaternization of thick PDMAEMA layer grafted through subsurface-initiated ATRP for robust antibiofouling and antibacterial coating on PDMS

In this work, we demonstrate the grafting of thick poly((2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) layer on PDMS via subsurface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SSI-ATRP). The self-migration of DMAEMA monomers into the subsurface of PDMS is proven to be the dominant factor for the success of SSI-ATRP. The as-prepared thick microscale graft layer on PDMS shows much better abrasion resistance than nanoscale graft layer obtained by conventional surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) under identical condition. Taking advantage of the tertiary amines of PDMAEMA, the simultaneous zwitterionization and quaternization of the PDMAEMA thick layer is realized through a facile one-step process. The effect of zwitterionization and quaternization degree on the antibiofouling and antibacterial properties is investigated. The results show that a relatively high zwitterionization degree (75 mol%) and a low quaternization degree (25 mol%) exhibit a good well-balanced effect on both fouling repellence and bactericidal activity. This work may lead to the development of robust bifunctional antibiofouling and antibacterial surfaces via SSI-ATRP strategy.