Preparation and properties of UV-curable fluorinated polyurethane acrylates

Flexible and transparent nanohole-patterned films with antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus

In this paper, we explore the development of a multi-functional surface designed to tackle the challenges posed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a common opportunistic pathogen. Infections caused by S. aureus during surgical procedures highlight the need for effective strategies to inhibit its adhesion, growth, and colonization, particularly on the surfaces of invasive medical devices. Until now, most existing research has focused on nanopillar structures (positive topographies). Uniform nanopillar arrays have been shown to control bacterial behavior based on the spacing between nanopillars. However, nanopillar structures are susceptible to external friction, impact, and force, making it challenging to maintain their antibacterial properties. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the antibacterial behavior of nanohole structures, which offer relatively superior mechanical robustness compared to nanopillars. Moreover, for applications in medical devices such as laparoscopes, there is a pressing need for surfaces that are not only transparent and flexible (or curved) but are also equipped with antibacterial properties. Our study introduces a scalable multi-functional surface that synergistically combines antibacterial and anti-fog properties. This is achieved by fabricating thin films with variously sized holes (ranging from 0.3 μm to 4 μm) using polyurethane acrylate (PUA). We assessed the activity of S. aureus on these surfaces and found that a 1 μm-diameter-hole pattern significantly reduced the presence of live S. aureus, without any detection of dead S. aureus. This bacteriostatic effect is attributed to the restricted proliferation due to the confined area provided by the hole pattern. However, the persistence of some live S. aureus on the surface necessitates further measures to minimize bacterial adhesion and enhance antibacterial effectiveness. To address this challenge, we coated the zwitterionic polymer 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) onto the nanohole pattern surface to reduce S. aureus adhesion. Moreover, in long-term experiments on surfaces, the MPC-coated effectively inhibited the colonization of S. aureus (18 h; 82%, 7 days; 83%, and 14 days; 68% antibacterial rate). By integrating PUA, MPC, and nanohole architectures into a single, flexible platform, we achieved a multi-functional surface catering to transparency, anti-fogging, and anti-biofouling requirements. This innovative approach marks a significant advancement in surface engineering, offering a versatile solution applicable in various fields, particularly in preventing S. aureus contamination in invasive medical devices like laparoscopes. The resultant surface, characterized by its transparency, flexibility, and antibacterial functionality, stands out as a promising candidate for mitigating S. aureus-related risks in medical applications.

Amphiphilic Zwitterionic Acrylate/Methacrylate Copolymers for Marine Fouling-Release Coatings

Methacrylate and acrylate monomers are popular building blocks for antifouling (AF) and fouling-release (FR) coatings to counteract marine biofouling. They are used in various combinations and often combined into amphiphilic materials. This study investigated the FR properties of amphiphilic ethylene glycol dicyclopentenyl ether acrylate (DCPEA) and the corresponding methacrylate (DCPEMA) blended with 5 wt % zwitterionic carboxybetaine acrylate (CBA) and the corresponding methacrylate (CBMA). A series of (co)polymers with different acrylate/methacrylate compositions were synthesized and tested against the attachment of the diatom Navicula perminuta and in short-term dynamic field exposure experiments. The more hydrophobic methacrylate DCPEMA homopolymer outperformed its acrylate counterpart DCPEA. Incorporated zwitterionic functionality of both CBMA and CBA imparted ultralow fouling capability in the amphiphilic polymers toward diatom attachment, whereas in the real ocean environment, only the employment of CBMA reduced marine biofouling. Moreover, it was observed that CBA-containing coatings showed different surface morphologies and roughnesses compared to the CBMA analogues. Particularly, a high impact was found when acrylic CBA was mixed with methacrylic DCPEMA. While the wettability of the coatings was comparable, investigated methacrylates in general exhibited superior fouling resistance compared to the acrylates.

UV-LED as a New Emerging Tool for Curable Polyurethane Acrylate Hydrophobic Coating

The elimination of mercury, low energy consumption, and low heat make the ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) system emerge as a promising alternative to conventional UV-mercury radiation coating. Hence, a series of hydrophobic coatings based on urethane acrylate oligomer and fluorinated monomer via UV-LED photopolymerisation was designed in this paper. The presence of fluorine component at 1160 cm-1, 1235 cm-1, and 1296 cm-1 was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy. A considerably high degree C=C conversion (96-98%) and gel fraction (95-93%) verified the application of UV-LED as a new technique in radiation coating. It is well-accepted that fluorinated monomer can change the surface wettability as the water contact angle of the coating evolved from 88.4° to 121.2°, which, in turn, reduced its surface free energy by 70.5%. Hence, the hydrophobicity of the coating was governed by the migration of the fluorine component to the coating surface as validated by scanning electron and atomic force microscopies. However, above 4 phr of fluorinated monomer, the transparency of the cured coating examined by UV-visible spectroscopy experienced approximately a 16% reduction. In summary, the utilisation of UV-LED was a great initiative to develop green aspect in photopolymerisation, particularly in coating technology.

A New Strategy for the Synthesis of Fluorinated Polyurethane

An alternating fluorinated copolymer based on chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and butyl vinyl ether (BVE) was synthesized by RAFT/MADIX living/controlled polymerization in the presence of S-benzyl O-ethyl dithiocarbonate (BEDTC). Then, using the obtained poly(CTFE-alt-BVE) as a macro chain transfer agent (macro-CTA), a block copolymer was prepared by chain extension polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). After a basic methanolysis process, the poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) block was transferred into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Finally, a novel fluorinated polyurethane with good surface properties due to the mobility of the flexible fluorinated polymer chains linked to the network was obtained via reaction of the copolymer bearing the blocks of PVA with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as a cross-linking agent.

Fluorinated polyurethane based on liquid fluorine elastomer (LFH) synthesis via two-step method: the critical value of thermal resistance and mechanical properties

FPU gains optimal thermal stability and mechanical property when a novel soft segment-LFH increases to critical value (18 wt%), even if the cured films being immersed into hot water and oil.

Synthesis, characterization and molecular dynamics simulation of the polyacrylates membranes

The aims of this paper are to investigate the inherent relationship between the structures of the polyacrylates and release behaviors as drug carriers in the transdermal drug delivery systems. Three model polyacrylates compounds were synthesized by radical polymerization. Three polymer materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimeter and cytotoxicity, and the release behaviors of drug molecules transporting through the polymers membranes were tested. Moreover, the effects of the polymers’ structures on the permeability were studied by molecular dynamic simulation. The simulation results showed that higher chains mobility and larger fractional free volume of the polymer membranes resulted in higher permeation rates. By comparing the monomers’ structure in the polymer materials, it was found that the polymer chains’ mobility decreases, and permeation rate correspondingly decreases with the increase in the amount and volume of side groups on the double bonds.