Adsorption of alginic acid and chondroitin sulfate-A to amine functionality introduced on polychlorotrifluoroethylene and glass surfaces

The amine functionality is introduced onto a glass surface by using 3-(aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (3-APTS)-a silane coupling agent-as well as by the adsorption of poly(L-lysine). The amine functionality is introduced onto the hydroxyl-functionalized polychlorotrifluoroethylene surface (PCTFE-OH) using 3-APTS as well. The amine-functionalized surfaces were thoroughly characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Selected polysaccharides, involved in fouling processes, such as alginic acid and chondroitin sulfate-A were allowed to adsorb onto amine-functionalized surfaces. It is shown that alginic acid adsorbs from calcium-free artificial seawater onto amine-functionalized glass surface prepared by the adsorption of poly(L-lysine) and onto amine-functionalized polychlorotrifluoroethylene surfaces (PCTFE-NH2), The adsorption of alginic acid to PCTFE-NH2 is very rapid, resulting in high-affinity isotherms and similar to 5 Angstrom thick dry overlayer of the polysaccharide. In addition, we observe that the adsorbed alginic acid protects the PCTFE-NH2 surface from hydrolysis by phosphate buffer 2 and from hydrolysis/oxidation by copper(II) acetate monohydrate solution. It is also shown that chondroitin sulfate-A adsorbs From potassium hydrogen phthalate buffer to the amine-functionalized glass surface prepared by the reaction between silanol groups on glass and 3-APTS. It is observed that alginic acid and chondroitin sulfate-A do not adsorb to the unmodified glass surface, which is polar and negatively charged, and the PCTFE surface, which is nonpolar, from aqueous solutions under various solution conditions. This study clearly indicates the importance of surface functional groups on the adsorption of polysaccharides, an important preliminary step in the biofouling of surfaces.