Protein-Resistant Poly(ethylene oxide)-Grafted Surfaces: Chain Density-Dependent Multiple Mechanisms of Action

A clear understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the protein-resistant nature of end-tethered poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) surfaces remains elusive. A barrier to improved understanding is the fact that many of the factors involved (chain length, chain density, hydration, conformation, and distal chemistry) are inherently correlated. We hypothesize that, by comparing systems of variable but precisely known chain density, it should be …