Paper MB-MoM9
Micro to Nanostructured Stimuli-Responsive Surfaces for Study and Control of Bioadhesion

Monday, October 31, 2011, 11:00 am, Room 105

This contribution will present recent results on the development and study of bioadhesion on stimuli responsive surfaces that are patterned on lateral length scales of the order of 10 microns and below. These length scales are commensurate with the sizes of the smallest creatures known to be problematic in marine biofouling. Model stimuli responsive surfaces include patterned polymer brushes and model marine organisms include marine bacteria grown in culture. Our previous studies have demonstrated that stimuli responsive materials can be used to control the adhesion of model marine organisms and this presentation will provide our latest advancements in this line of study, as regards to both molecular and cellular biointerfacial phenomena. Methods for preparing nanopatterns of stimuli responsive polymer brushes over areal scales necessary for biofouling studies will be presented, along with characterization of their structure and dynamic behavior.