Preparation of nanocomposite poly(allylamine)-poly(ethylene glycol) thin films using Michael addition

Nanoscale thin polyethylene glycol-polyallylamine films were synthesized by repeated Michael addition reactions between polyethylene glycol acrylate groups and primary pendant amines on polyallylamine. While gold was used due to the ease of monolayer fabrication with thiols, the films could similarly be formed on other functionalized surfaces. The presence of terminal vinyl and pendant amine groups within the polymer layers, aqueous enzyme-friendly reaction medium, and biocompatible macromers suggests that the films have potential use for a wide variety of biomaterial applications.