%0 Journal Article %A Zoulalian, V. %A Monge, S. %A Zürcher, S. %A Textor, M. %A Robin, J. J. %A Tosatti, S. %D 2006 %T Functionalization of Titanium Oxide Surfaces by Means of Poly(alkyl-phosphonates) %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Functionalization_of_Titanium_Oxide_Surfaces_by_Means_of_Poly_alkyl_phosphonates_/3037564 %R 10.1021/jp066811s.s001 %2 https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/4740775 %K stability %K attachment sites strategy %K XPS %K PEG side chains %K methacrylate %K angle spectroscopic ellipsometry %K titanium oxide surfaces %K Titanium Oxide Surfaces %K pH %K serum %K adlayer %K exposure %K protein adsorption %K monomer %X The use of a multiple attachment sites strategy is considered in order to improve the stability of monomolecular adlayers. The hypothesis was tested in the case of PEG-ylated compounds carrying phosphonate groups, known for their affinity toward titanium oxide surfaces. As a result, a new class of co- and terpolymers were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of three different monomers:  dialkyl(methacryloyloxyalkyl)phosphonates, PEG methyl ether methacrylate, and/or butyl methacrylate monomers. Adlayers were formed following a simple dip-and-rinse protocol using diluted aqueous polymer solutions and were characterized by evaluating their thicknesses with variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) and their elemental compositions with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The same techniques were used to determine changes of the adlayer as a function of exposure to electrolytes at different pH values and to monitor nonspecific protein adsorption upon serum exposures. The results indicated that the poly(alkyl-phosphonate)-based adlayers combine multiple site attachment of phosphonic groups and presentation of PEG side chains to the aqueous environment, resulting in both improved stability over a wide pH range in comparison to the tested reference surfaces and excellent resistance to protein adsorption when exposed to full human serum. %I ACS Publications