POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) SURFACE-COATINGS - RELATIONS BETWEEN INTERMOLECULAR FORCES, LAYER STRUCTURE AND PROTEIN REPELLENCY

The adsorption of some ethylene oxide-containing surfactants and polym ers has been studied using the surface force technique. The forces act ing between surfaces coated with such surfactants and polymers have be en investigated as a function of temperature. For all ethylene oxide-c ontaining molecules studied, the general trends of the temperature dep endence of the surface forces and the structure of the adsorbed layer can be rationalised by considering the temperature dependence of the i nteraction between the ethylene oxide group and water. The different p olymers and surfactants differ, however, in terms of surface affinity and in terms of the range of the surface forces. Knowledge of the surf ace forces acting between poly(ethylene oxide) layers can be used to e stablish why such coatings show a low protein adsorption, particularly at low temperatures.