Adsorption of syndiotactic and isotactic poly(2-vinylpyridine 1-oxide) on quartz surface.

Poly(2-vinylpyridine 1-oxide) inhibits the cytotoxic effects of quartz in cell cultures but the syndiotactic polymer behaves differently from the isotactic and atactic polymers. In each case approximately 1-0 mg/m2 of the polymer represents the adsorption maximum. No difference has been found between the adsorption isotherms of the stereoisomeric polymers or the stability of the adsorbed layers. The layers are not removed by repeated washing. The observations do not support the theory that the poly(2-vinylpyridine 1-oxide) is active because it coats the quartz surface.