Hemocompatible Polyethylene Glycol Films on Silicon

A simple hemocompatibility-enhancing technique for immobilizing a self-assembled polyethylene glycol multilayer onto silicon surfaces is introduced. It involves the functionalization of PEG by SiCl₃ groups on its chain ends, and the reaction of the PEG organosilicon derivatives with hydroxylated groups on silicon surfaces. Surface properties of the treated surfaces were characterized by contact angle measurement, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and ellipsometry. The coated PEG self-assembled molecular film showed effective suppression in both plasma protein adsorption and platelet adhesion to silicon surfaces.