AVS 45th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Group Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoM

Paper BI-MoM2
Probing the Local Interaction Forces with the AFM between Tertraglyme and Fluorinated Polymers and Biomolecules

Monday, November 2, 1998, 8:40 am, Room 326

Session: Protein Solid-Surface Interactions
Presenter: R. Luginbühl, University of Washington
Authors: R. Luginbühl, University of Washington
Y.V. Pan, University of Washington
B.D. Ratner, University of Washington
Correspondent: Click to Email
The interactions between biomolecules and surfaces play a major role in biological process. In biomaterial science, a key to success lays in understanding and controlling the local characteristics of the material surfaces. Engineering of recognition surfaces with well-defined chemical and physical properties is of highest interest for fabrication of biocompatible surfaces, biosensor technology, medical devices and/or molecular electronics. Polymer films, deposited in a radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) process, are of increasing interest as biomaterial coatings. Plasma polymerization of tetraglyme (CH3-(O-CH2-CH2)4-O-CH3) was reported by Lopez and Ratner in 1992. The resulting thin films show resistance to protein adhesion, cell and bacteria attachment, similar to poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG). In contrary to tetraglyme coatings, fluorine-containing films polymerized from perfluorinated monomers are very hydrophobic and exhibit a high interaction to biomolecules and cells. The interactions between biomolecules and a material surface can be probe with the atomic force microscope (AFM) at the molecular level. AFM cantilever tips were modified with a thin film of either one of the above mentioned plasma polymers and/or with biomolecules. The adhesion force was quantified by the mean of force versus displacement curves. In addition, recognition images of polymer patterned surfaces with biomolecule modified AFM tips were obtained applying a new modulation technique.