Complexation Chemistry for Tuning Release from Polymer Coatings

Journal article, 2006

The strategy of metal ion complexation is employed to design a delivery system for an antifouling agent (AFA) in marine paints. A poly(1-vinylimidazole- co-methyl methacrylate) copolymer (PVM), together with Cu 2+ or Zn 2+ formed a PVM-M 2+ complex. The AFA, Medetomidine, was then coordinated into the complex. The coordination strength was investigated in solution by 1 H NMR and on solid surfaces by using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring technique (QCM-D) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). From the 1 H NMR experiments strong interactions were observed between Cu 2+ and the PVM-polymer and between Medetomidine and the PYM-Cu 2+ complex. From the QCM-D and SPR measurements it was shown that Cu 2+ , compared to Zn 2+ , exhibited a larger affinity for the PVM-copolymer surface that resulted in higher degree of swelling of the polymer film. Large amounts of Medetomidine were adsorbed to the PVM-Cu 2+ complex resulting in low desorption rates. However, the adsorbed amount of Medetomidine was lowerto the Zn 2+ doped polymer and a higher desorption rate was observed. These results indicate the possibility of tuning the release of Medetomidine by altering the coordinating metal ion, which may prove to be favorable in a paint formulation. © 2006 American Chemical Society.