Protein repellent polyurethane-urea surfaces by chemical grafting of hydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene oxide): effects of protein size and charge

The objective of this work was to elucidate the mechanism of protein repellency by surfaces grafted with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Surfaces were prepared by chemical grafting to polyurethane-urea films. Free isocyanate groups were first introduced into the surface and then reacted with hydroxyl-terminated PEO. The chain length of the grafted PEO was varied from 3 to 113 ethylene oxide units. Based on XPS analysis the grafting density was …