Click synthesis of quaternized poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) functionalized graphene oxide with improved antibacterial and antifouling ability.

A quaternized poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) functionalized graphene oxide (GO-QPDMAEMA) was successfully prepared in this study via click chemistry. Alkyne-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-alkyne) was first synthesized through a two-step amidation reaction of GO-COOH. Meanwhile, azide-terminated poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-N3) was prepared via the atom-transfer radical-polymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). Subsequently, PDMAEMA-N3 was grafted onto the GO-alkyne through click chemistry to obtain PDMAEMA modified graphene oxide (GO-PDMAEMA). Finally, the tertiary amino groups of GO-PDMAEMA were quaternized by ethyl bromide to provide a quaternized poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) functionalized graphene oxide (GO-QPDMAEMA). Various characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectrometry, ζ potential, Raman, contact angle analyses and field emission scanning electron microscope were used to ascertain the successful preparation of the quaternized GO-QPDMAEMA. Furthermore, antibacterial and antifouling activities of GO-QPDMAEMA were investigated via protein adsorption, as well as bacterial and cell adhesion studies. The results suggest that the GO-QPDMAEMA surface exhibited significant antibacterial and antifouling properties, compared with the GO-COOH and GO-PDMAEMA surfaces.