Publications [#299446] of Daniel Rittschof

Papers Published

1. Shivapooja, P; Yu, Q; Orihuela, B; Mays, R; Rittschof, D; Genzer, J; López, GP, Modification of Silicone Elastomer Surfaces with Zwitterionic Polymers: Short-Term Fouling Resistance and Triggered Biofouling Release., ACS applied materials & interfaces, vol. 7 no. 46 (November, 2015), pp. 25586-25591, ISSN 1944-8244 [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/21)

   Abstract:
   We present a method for dual-mode-management of biofouling by modifying surface of silicone elastomers with zwitterionic polymeric grafts. Poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) was grafted from poly(vinylmethylsiloxane) elastomer substrates using thiol-ene click chemistry and surface-initiated, controlled radical polymerization. These surfaces exhibited both fouling resistance and triggered fouling-release functionality. The zwitterionic polymers exhibited fouling resistance over short-term (∼hours) exposure to bacteria and barnacle cyprids. The biofilms that eventually accumulated over prolonged-exposure (∼days) were easily detached by applying mechanical strain to the elastomer substrate. Such dual-functional surfaces may be useful in developing environmentally and biologically friendly coatings for biofouling management on marine, industrial, and biomedical equipment because they can obviate the use of toxic compounds.