Nanoengineering\nSpikey Surfaces: Investigation of\nReversible Organizational Control of Surface-Tethered Polypeptide\nBrushes

Nature serves as an important source of inspiration for\nthe innovation\nand development of micro- and nanostructures for advanced functional\nsurfaces and substrates. One example used in nature is a spikey surface\nranging from micrometer-sized spikes on pollen grains down to the\nnanometer-scale protein spikes found on viruses. This study explored\nthe realization of such highly textured surfaces via the nanoengineering\nof self-assembled poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) “nanospikes”,\nexploiting solvent-induced chain organization, controlled surface\nchemical functionality, and enhanced stability in the form of polymer\nbrushes. The reversible solvent-responsive behavior of these polymer\nchains and the aggregation behavior of the chain-ends were investigated\nvia fluorescence characterization and studied through molecular simulations.\nVapor-based solvent treatments were developed for orientation control\nwith <i>in situ</i> analysis to understand film response\nand brush organizational behavior under different selected conditions.\nThe effect of sub-100 nm nanopatterning on surface morphology and\nchain organization was examined via an integrated approach of experimental\nand computational studies. The methodologies established in this study\npresent opportunities for engineering sophisticated nanoscale spikey\nsurfaces with high customizability by means of nanolithography combined\nwith solvent-assisted treatments.