The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

In this study, we developed substrate-independent initiator films that can be formed on a wide range of substrates. Our approach is based on the synthesis of tyrosine-conjugated initiator derivatives, in which the tyrosine moiety serves as a latent coating precursor. Upon enzymatic oxidation by tyrosinase, these precursors form thin films that simultaneously function as initiator layers for surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) of antifouling monomers. Specifically, two types of initiator molecules were designed, differing in the number of tyrosine units, to investigate the effect on film stability and to control the grafting density of polymer brushes. The resulting platform enables both tunable antifouling performance and broad substrate applicability, offering potential utility in biosensors, medical devices, and marine antifouling coatings.