Polymer brushes based on PLLA-b-PEO colloids for the preparation of protein resistant PLA surfacesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: 1H NMR spectra of copolymers, AFM images of the PLLA surface, XPS spectra and (co)polymer surface composition from XPS analysis, SPR sensogram, stability test of copolymer surfaces, light microscopy micrographs of HUVEC on polymer surfaces. See DOI: 10.1039/c7bm00009j

In this study we investigate the formation of protein-resistant polymer surfaces, such as aliphatic polyesters, through the deposition of self-assemblies of amphiphilic poly( l -lactide)- b -poly(ethylene oxide), PLLA- b -PEO, copolymers as stable nanoparticles with a kinetically frozen PLLA core on model PLLA surfaces. The length of the PEO chains in the corona was tuned to achieve polymer brushes capable of preventing protein adsorption on PLA-based biomaterials. The spectroscopic ellipsometry, IR and XPS analysis, contact angle goniometry, and AFM proved that the PEO chains adopted a brush structure and were preferably exposed on the surface. The low-fouling properties of the physisorbed PLLA- b -PEO layers approached the ones of reactive grafting methods, as shown by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The anti-fouling properties of the prepared PEO brushes provided sufficient interface to prevent cell adhesion as proved in vitro . Thus, the developed surface coating with PLLA- b -PEO colloids can provide an anti-fouling background for the creation of nanopatterned biofunctionalized surfaces in biomedical applications. Deposition of PLLA- b -PEO colloidal nanoparticles from selective solvents onto a polylactide surface resulting in an anti-fouling and cell repulsive surface.