Surface chemistry of PET for enhancing its antifouling properties

In this work, highly hydrophilic PET surfaces were obtained by helium and oxygen plasma treatments. Plasma-treated samples were then grafted with PEG, Pluronic F68, Pluronic F108, mixed solutions of Pluronic and surfactant (nonaethylene glycol monodecyl ether, sodium taurodeoxycholate, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide). Grafted surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Surface energy calculations showed a high affinity of hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide to O-2 plasma-treated surfaces. In relation to this type of surface chemistry, the anti-fouling character of such a modified PET surface was studied by confocal microscopy. Evidence of reduction of the Immunoglobulin G adhesion by around 70%, 60% and 50% for plasma-treated surfaces grafted with PEG, Pluronic F108 and Pluronic F68, respectively is given. A remarkable increase in the anti-fouling properties was also observed on aged grafted surfaces.