A Dynamic Interface Based on Segregation of an Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Polymer Containing Fluoroalkyl and Oligo(ethylene oxide) Moieties

An amphiphilic hyperbranched polymer (HBP) containing both fluoroalkyl (Rf: −C6F13) pendants and oligo­(ethylene oxide) (nEO) parts was synthesized as a novel type of interfacial modifier to confer dynamic features on conventional polymer films. The HBP was always segregated at the outermost region of the polymer matrix in contact with air and water phases. The former and latter were driven by the presence of hydrophobic Rf pendants and hydrophilic nEO parts, respectively. Such a dynamic interface can be attained by changing the local conformation of HBP or segment-level segregation in the HBP molecule. In water, nEO parts formed a dissolved layer at the interface and induced excellent bioinert properties. Our strategy based on stable segregation, which could be maintained even after changing the environment, should be useful for constructing functional surfaces.