Surface reactivity of pulsed-plasma polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFM) toward amines and proteins in solution.

Pulsed-plasma polymerization has been used to deposit ultrathin layers of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate by using low duty cycles and low power input. The monomer structure can be retained such that the chemical reactivity of the active ester group could be studied using the reaction with a simple amine. The film properties in aqueous phosphate buffer have been investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and real time surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The films react readily with diaminohexane and immunoglobulin (IgG), yet the reactivity shows a dependence on the extent of hydrolysis of the ester group.