Segregated Polymer Brushes via "Grafting to" and ATRP "Grafting from" Chain Anchoring

Synthesis of two-component heterogeneous segregated brushes utilizing the phase-separation phenomena in ultrathin polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) films and the combination of "grafting-to" and "grafting-from" method of polymer anchoring is reported. First component PS brushes were prepared using the "grafting-to" approach; second component polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate brushes were synthesized using a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The segregated brushes demonstrated non-uniform surface response as evidenced by the study of the surfaces morphologies after being treated with selective solvents and by protein adsorption.