Facile preparation of epoxide functionalized surfaces via photocurable copolymer coatings and subsequent immobilization of iminodiacetic acids.

Herein, we report a simple coat/cure preparation of epoxide functionalized surfaces using a photocurable copolymer technology. The photocurable copolymer, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-4-benzoylphenyl methacrylate) (GBB) was synthesized by single-electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP). The epoxide content in the copolymer was tuned by controlling the content of glycidyl methacrylate. Three copolymers, GBB(1), GBB(2) and GBB(3) with epoxide contents of 22 mol %, 63 mol %, and 91 mol %, respectively, were cast onto polypropylene films and photocured by UV-light exposure. Subsequently, iminodiacetic acids (IDA) were immobilized onto the GBB coated materials via a ring-opening reaction. The IDA functionalized coatings, GBB(1)-IDA, GBB(2)-IDA, GBB(3)-IDA presented IDA contents of 1.47 ± 0.08 nmol/cm2, 18.67 ± 1.46 nmol/cm2, and 49.05 ± 2.88 nmol/cm2, respectively, which increased as the epoxide content increased. The IDA functionalized GBB coatings exhibited metal chelating capability towards transition metal ions (e.g. iron and copper). The reported photocurable copolymer technology offers a facile and tunable preparation of epoxide functionalized surfaces, with potential extended applications in biopatterning, protein separation, active packaging, and diagnostics.