Optimizing the surface density of polyethylene glycol chains by grafting from binary solvent mixtures

- A binary solvent strategy was used to achieve high graft density low fouling PEG brush.
- PEG chains with thiol and silane head groups were grafted onto Au and Si, respectively.
- Surface sensitive techniques were used to quantitatively characterize the PEG films formed.
- Ability of PEG surfaces to resist protein adsorption was tested by exposing to full serum.
- PEG thiol brush grafted using binary solvent strategy effectively resisted protein adsorption.