ADSORPTION DESORPTION OF A PEO-RICH COMB-LIKE POLYMER AT A SILICA AQUEOUS-SOLUTION INTERFACE

The adsorption isotherm of a polymethacrylate of monoethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) from aqueous solutions on silica was found to be of high affinity type. Homogeneous and heterogeneous left bracket with linear poly(ethylene oxide), PEO right bracket exchange between adsorbed and dissolved molecules was performed with radiolabeled polymers: results suggest the anchoring of the polymer by the backbone, the tails of PEO protruding into the bulk solution. Pretreatment of silica with such a polymer reduces the adsorption of fibrinogen to 5 percent of the value observed with bare silica.