Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) copolymers prepared via a RAFT-mediated process and their use in antifouling and antibacterial membranes

PNVP-g-PVDF copolymers were synthesized and used to produce microfiltration membranes. The pore size and distribution varied with the grafting concentration and the density of graft points. A significant decrease of the amounts of adsorbed BSA indicated improved antifouling properties of PVDF. The MF membranes were further functionalized via surface-initiated block copolymerization with DMAEMA to obtain (PVDF-g-PNVP)-b-PDMAEMA MF membranes. Quaternization of the tertiary amine groups of the PDMAEMA brushes gave rise to a high concentration of quaternary ammonium salt on the membrane surfaces. The bactericidal effect of the QAS-functionalized membranes on E. coli was also demonstrated and discussed.