Nonionic hydrophilic surfaces: adsorption and interactions

• An overview is given of recent studies of nonionic, hydrophilic surfaces formed by the adsorption surfactants or surface active polymers. Hydrophobic surfaces can be easily hydrophilized by the adsorption of nonionic surfactants or block copolymers containing hydrophobic chain segements; the cooperative interaction between the hydrocarbon moieties contributes more to the free energy of adsorption than the interaction with the hydrophobic surface. Hydrophilic layers are also readily formed on hydrophilic surfaces provided specific interaction between the hydrophilic end groups and the surface creates a sufficiently hydrophobic surface so that a second layer can bed formed through cooperative interaction. The temperature dependence of the interaction forces between layers of surfactants can be closely correlated with their phase equilibria with water. In order to prevent protein adsorption the surface should be neither charged nor hydrophobic; it is shown that, accordingly, protein adsorption is extremely low on poly ethylene oxide-covered surfaces.

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