Identifying the Pathways Responsible for Blood Plasma Fouling on Polymer Brushes

Andres de los Santos Pereira
Lecture of the lecture cycle
11.12.2025 10:00, Lecture room A

Polymer brushes are leading antifouling coatings, capable of resisting adsorption from complex media like blood plasma. However, their efficacy varies significantly depending on the plasma source, whether from individual donors or commercial pools. We investigated this variability to elucidate the factors governing fouling resistance. Using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), we synthesized common antifouling brushes, including poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate]. Mass spectrometry analysis of protein deposits from various donors revealed that complement system activation drives fouling. Specifically, the alternative pathway accelerates fouling on poly(HEMA), whereas the classical pathway—implicating anti-PEG antibodies—dominates on poly(OEGMA). Furthermore, protein profiles on zwitterionic brushes were correlated with hemocompatibility. These findings demonstrate the critical role of specific protein identification in understanding polymer brush–blood interactions.

The lecture is presented in English