Tunable disintegration of layer-by-layer assembly multilayer films based on hydrolytical-polybetaine at wide-range time

Controllable disintegration of hydrolytical-polybetaine multilayer films and tunable release of polyelectrolyte at wide-range time. [Display omitted] ► A cationic hydrolytical-polycarboxybetaine (HPCB) was firstly synthesized. ► HPCB could assemble with poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) PSS to form multilayer films. ► A very wide-range disintegration time (from 2 min to 30 days) of HPCB/PSS multilayer films was successfully realized. A cationic hydrolytical-polycarboxybetaine (HPCB), poly(N-ethyl acetate-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) was synthesized by incorporating ester group into the side chain of polycarboxybetaine (PCB). The hydrolytic behaviors of HPCB samples in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer saline (PBS) were investigated by FT-IR and 1H NMR. The layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of HPCB/poly (sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) PSS and the disintegration of HPCB/PSS multilayer films were monitored by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The disintegrated behavior of multilayer films was studied in detail by changing the cationic degree of HPCB and the pH of the immersion solution (PBS) in the disintegration process. The disintegration time of HPCB/PSS multilayer films could be controlled widely from 2min to 30days in PBS.