Multiresponsive Surfaces Change Between Superhydrophilicity and Superhydrophobicity

Abstract

Surfaces that respond to multiple stimuli may be well-suited for drug delivery applications. Here, such a surface is prepared by coating a silicon wafer with a block copolymer comprising a pH/glucose- and a temperature-sensitive block. The figure shows how the multiresponsive surfaces work in response to glucose concentration at pH 7.4 and at a temperature of 26 °C. Under these conditions the surface shows a reversible change from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic.