Imprinting of Metal Receptors into Layer-By-Layer Polyelectrolyte Films for Antifouling Applications

Imprinting of Cu²⁺ selective layer-by-layer (LbL) films have been investigated and their antifouling performance has been evaluated. Adsorption of polycation having histidne grafted poly (allylamine) (PAH) and methyl ester containing polyanions yields polymer films with histidine ligands that bind metal ions. Ester groups within the polyanion are favorable for covalent cross linking with the histidine grafted polycation. Two methods of LbL film formation have been demonstrated alternate deposition poly anion with high density methyl esters and poly cation with histidine ligand (non-imprinted LbL_A), PAH-Histidine is coordinated with Cu²⁺ ions in solution and then assembled into multilayer films with poly anion containing high density of methyl esters (imprinted LbL_B). In the end, both the LbL films are cross linked at mild temperature to yield the covalent bridging of the layers. Comparative study of the non- imprinted LbL_A films and imprinted LbL_B films for the Cu²⁺ ions binding capacity, leaching rate and stability of the films have been investigated and demonstrated that the imprinted films are better than the non-imprinted films; thereby the processing method of LbL assembly template is vital for imprinting of metals.