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Polymer surfaces were modified in low-pressure glow discharge plasmas for introduction of monotype functional groups of different type and density. For this purpose three ways are selected, (i) oxygen plasma treatment followed by wet-chemical reduction of O functional groups to OH groups, (ii) plasma bromination for introducing C - Br groups and (iii) coating by deposition of thin plasma (co-) polymerized layers of functional groups-bearing monomers with OH, NH2, COOH, epoxy etc. functionalities. Subsequently, these groups were used as anchoring points for chemical grafting of spacer molecules, oligomers, prepolymers, fluorescent labels, ionic and nucleic acid residues, employing different chemical routes. The yield in monosort functional groups at polymer surfaces ranged from 1014 (process i), 2040 (process ii) and 1831 groups per 100 C atoms (process iii) as measured by XPS after derivatization. The consumption of functional groups amounted to 4090% of all functionalities present at the surface and depended on the dimensions of grafted molecules. For infinitely variably tuning the number of functional groups process iii was performed as copolymerization of a functional group-carrying comonomer with a non-functionalized (chain-extending) comonomer.
Molecular engineering of polymer surfaces that includes the attachment of functional molecules to existing or previously generated reactive chemical groups like e.g., - OH, - NH2, or - CHO requires simple strategies and tools for the controlled generation of surface functionalities and their derivatization as well as for their identification and eventually quantification. Here, we systematically investigate the plasma-chemical surface modification of polypropylene films in combination with dansyl labeling chemistry and conventional, yet costly, XPS and highly sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy for the detection of surface groups. Based on these results, the potential of and requirements on the fluorometric characterization and quantification of surfaces functionalities are discussed.
A straightforward strategy toward the sensitive fluorometric detection of primary amino groups on plasma-chemically modified polypropylene supports is presented, exploiting the transformation of the sterically nonhindered pyrylium dye Py-1 into its pyridinium counterpart. The reaction-induced blue-shifted absorption and emission bands and an increased fluorescence quantum yield provide the basis for the spectroscopic distinction between covalently bound and free, that is, nonspecifically adsorbed label molecules. With this label, for the first time, plasma-chemically introduced amino functionalities could be monitored on the surface of a polymer film employing fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Polypropylene supports were functionalized by plasma-deposition of polymeric allylamine layers. The surface amino groups generated were wet-chemically reacted with xanthene dyes resulting in fluorescent polymer films. The effect of polymer-attachment of the dyes on their emission features was studied fluorometrically and different methods were tested to improve the fluorescence properties of the films. Modification with cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) yields a moderately enhanced fluorescence as well as an improved photostability. The observed effect is most likely due to CB6-induced rigidization of the linker molecules which seems to reduce fluorescence quenching dyedye and fluorophoresurface interactions.
The potential of spectrofluorometry and fluorescence microscopy for the characterization and quantification of different functionalities like OH and NH2 groups at plasma-chemically modified polymer surfaces is assessed using traditional reactive dyes such as dansyl derivatives and a sophisticated VIS-excitable chromogenic and fluorogenic pyrylium label showing binding-induced spectral and intensity changes in absorption and emission. Aiming at an improved fluorometric surface analysis, based upon these measurements, several sources of uncertainty inherent to fluorescence measurements are illustrated ranging from environment-dependent dye absorption and emission features over spectral correction and nonspecific adsorption to the critical influence of label choice on the measured background. Solutions to these drawbacks are given thereby underlining the potential of fluorometry for surface analysis.
Plasmapolymerisierte Allylaminschichten (50 nm) wurden auf Polypropylenfolien abgeschieden. Die auf diese Weise generierte NH2-funktionalisierte Polymeroberfläche wurde mit Xanthen-Fluorophoren chemisch umgesetzt. Da die Farbstoff-gekoppelten Folien nur geringe Fluoreszenz aufwiesen, wurden zwei Wege zur möglichen Entkopplung der Farbstoffe von der Oberfläche und damit zur Erhöhung der Fluoreszenzintensität getestet. Als erstes wurde ein Spacer durch die Umsetzung der primären Aminogruppen mit Glutaraldehyd und der nachfolgenden Kettenverlängerung mit Diaminohexan eingeführt. Diese nachfolgende Reaktion ergab eine spacergebundene NH2-Oberfläche, die analog der Allylaminschicht mit den Farbstoffen umgesetzt wurde. Als weiterer Weg wurde der Zusatz einer geeigneten Käfigverbindung, des Cucurbit[6]urils, getestet. Die spacergebundenen und zusätzlich mit Cucurbituril modifizierten aminofunktionellen Oberflächen zeigten nach der Farbstoffankopplung eine verbesserte Fluoreszenzintensität.