Preparation of Smart Surfaces Based on PNaSS@PEDOT Microspheres: Testing of Detection.

The main task of the research is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the effect of polymer structure on the physicochemical properties of films. A novel meta-material that can be used in manufacturing sensor layers was developed as a model. At the first stage, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) () cross-linked microspheres are synthesized (which are based on strong polyelectrolytes containing sulfo groups in each monomer unit), and at the second stage, microspheres are formed. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) () shell was obtained by the acid-assisted self-polymerization of the monomer; this process is biologically safe and thus suitable for biomedical applications. The suitability of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for detection was tested; it was revealed that the attached bacterial wall was destroyed upon application of constant oxidation potential (higher than 0.5 V), which makes the microsphere particles promising materials for the development of antifouling coatings. Furthermore, under open-circuit conditions, the walls of bacteria were not destroyed, which opens up the possibility of employing such meta-materials as sensor films. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction methods were applied in order to characterize the films.