Reactive coupling of poly(ethylene glycol) on electroactive polyaniline films for reduction in protein adsorption andplatelet adhesion

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coupledpolyaniline (PANI) film surfaces were preparedby incorporating the chlorine end-capped methoxy PEG (mPEGCl) of molecular weight of about 2000 onto the emeraldine (EM) base form of PANI via N-alkylation. The microstructure andcomposition of the mPEG-coupledPANI (mPEG-c-PANI) surfaces were characterizedby atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurement andX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The concentration of surface-coupledmPEG increasedwith the increase in concentration of the mPEGCl solution. The mPEG-c-PANI film surfaces exhibitedenhancedability to repel protein adsorption, with only a moderate reduction in their electrical conductivity. The mPEG-c-PANI surface with a high concentration of coupled mPEG also exhibited good resistance towards platelet adhesion.