ABSTRACT
Over the past decade, highly functional materials with complex nanoscopic features have been developed in our laboratory as the next-generation non-toxic, environmentally-friendly anti-biofouling and fouling-release coatings, known as hyperbranched fluoropolymer-poly(ethylene glycol) (HBFP-PEG) cross-linked amphiphilic networks [1-8]. These materials contain two main components: hydrophobic, amorphous HBFP and hydrophilic, semi-crystalline diamino-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Several versions of such materials have been
prepared, originally by polycondensation [1] and more recently by atom transfer radical self-condensing vinyl copolymerization (ATR-SCVCP) (Fig. 1) [6]. These hyperbranched fluoropolymers possess a high degree of latent reactive functionalities: the para-fluorine of the pentafluorophenyl units in the first-generation material, HBFP(I), and primary and secondary benzyl chlorides in the second-generation material, HBFP(II) (Fig. 1). It is with these functionalities that the diamino-PEG can undergo reaction, producing a covalently-cross-linked network. These chemicallycross-linked HBFP-PEG systems have shown several unique properties that arise from nanoscale phase-segregated topographical domains inherent to the system, as well as multi-faceted morphological properties. Their unusual features include enhanced ability of their surfaces to prevent adsorption of various biomacromolecules and marine algae [5], atypical uptake and release of small molecules within these networks [4], and unique mechanical performance before and after swelling in water [8].
