• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2008

A poly-(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surface modified by the successive deposition of the polyelectrolytes, poly-(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly-(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) (PDAC), poly-(4-ammonium styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS), and poly-(acrylic acid) (PAA), was presented for the application of selective cell immobilization. It is formed via electrostatic attraction between adjacent layers of opposite charge. The modified PDMS surface was examined using static contact angle measurements and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer. The wettability of the PDMS surface could be easily controlled and functionalized to be biocompatible through regulation of layer numbers. The modified PDMS surface provides appropriate environment for adhesion to cells, which is essential technology for cell patterning with high yield and viability in the patterning process. This method is reproducible, convenient, and rapid. It could be applied to the fabrication of biological sensing, patterning, microelectronics devices, screening system, and study of cell-surface interaction.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 2008

In a previous study, we probed the potential of poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the separation of monovalent anions, with an emphasis on the selective rejection of $F^-$. Remarkably, deposition of $(PSS/PBADMAC)_4PSS$ films on porous alumina supports yielded membranes that exhibited $Cl^-/F^-$ selectivity > 3 with minimal $Cl^-$ rejection, and a solution flux of $3.5m^3/m^2$-day at 4.8 bar. When the number of PSS/PDADMAC bilayers was increased from 4.5 to 5.5, however, $F^-$ rejection decreased from 73% to 50% and $Cl^-/F^-$ selectivity dropped to 1.9. Addition of another bilayer to form $(PSS/PDADMAC)_6$ PSS films resulted in a significant increase in $Cl^-$ rejection to give essentially no $Cl^-/F^-$ selectivity. The decrease of selectivity with deposition of more than 4.5 bilayers was not expected and it was unclear whether this characteristic was substrate independent. In this study, to investigate the effect of substrates on NF performance of multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes, PSS/PDADMAC films were deposited on 50 kDa polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration supports instead of porous alumina supports. The results indicate that, although fluoride rejection and the number of bilayers at which a maximum $F^-$ rejection occurs are different, the trend is similar for both types of substrates. Therefore, we can conclude that the M: characteristics of multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes may be substrate independent.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.556-562
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• 2006

Quarternized poly(4-vinyl pyridine)s have been prepared by the reaction of poly (4-vinyl pyridine)s (Mw=50 kg/mol and 200 kg/mol) and alkylating agents varying the carbon numbers of the alkyl groups (m):dimethyl sulfate (m=1) as well as bromoalkane (m= 5, 8, 12, 16, and 22) was used as an alkylating agent. The degree of alkylation was determined by using an elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. As a result, polyelectrolytes were obtained by the almost full alkylation of poly (4-vinyl pyridine)s. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) was determined by measuring the change of turbidity occurred by addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) into aqueous solution of quarternized poly-(4-vinyl pyridine)s, and the dependence of molecular weight of polymer, the length of N-alkyl group and concentration of NaCl upon CAC was investigated. As a result, as the molecular weight or the length of alkyl group was increased, less amount of SDS Gould induce the aggregation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2009

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuator generates bending actuation via ion/water flux to the cathode side under an electric field. Polyelectrolytes in IPMC should possess high water-retention capability, proton conductivity, and Young's modulus. In this study. for endowing IPMCs with these properties, Nafion-alumina composite membranes containing $\alpha$- or $\gamma$-aluminas of $4{\sim}8$ wt% were prepared. Mechanical moduli of Nafion-alumina composite membranes were $7{\sim}3$ MPa higher than that of Nafion, with the slight decrease in proton conductivity. At DC 3 V. the actuation performance of the Nafion-$\alpha$-alumina (8 wt%)-IPMC was superior to that of the typical Nafion-IPMC. exhibiting 2.7 times the displacement with an enhanced blocking force. The enhanced actuation performance with the Nafion-$\alpha$-alumina composite membranes was attributed to the higher proton conductivity, the elevated ion/water flux, and the lower interfacial electric resistance of platinum electrodes and membrane, compared with those containing $\gamma$-alumina.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2010

New cinnamate group-containing copolymers for a self-curable, humidity-sensitive polyelectrolyte and polymeric anchoring agents were prepared by copolymerization of [2-[(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]dimethyl]propyl ammonium bromide(MEPAB), methyl methacrylate(MMA), 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate(TMSPM) and 2-(cinnamoyloxy)ethyl methacrylate(CEMA). Photocrosslinkable copolymer composed of MEPAB/MMA/TMSPM/CEMA＝70/20/0/10 were used for humidity-sensitive membrane, and those of 50/0/20/30 and 0/0/50/50 were used for polymeric anchoring agents. 3- (Triethoxysilyl)propyl cinnamate(TESPC) was also used as a surface-pretreating agent for the comparison of capability of attachment of polyelectrolyte to the electrode surface with polymeric photocurable silanecoupling agents. Pretreatment of the electrode substrate with anchoring agents was performed to form a cinnamate thin film on the electrode through covalent bonds. When the sensors were irradiated with UV light, the anchoring of a polyelectrolyte into the substrate was carried out via the [2$\pi$+2$\pi$] cycloaddition. The resulting sensors using polymeric anchoring agents and TESPC showed water durability with increase of resistance by 60~85%, which is corresponding to the reduction of 2.25~3.15%RH, after soaking in water for 24 h. They showed good hysteresis (-0.2%RH), response time (90 sec) and long-term stability at high temperature and humidity.