Chain End-Functionalized Polymer Brushes with Switchable Fluorescence Response

Herein is described the switchable fluorescence response of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes. Chain end fluorescein labeled PMMA brushes are prepared by combining surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) with a copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction. Successful attachment of fluorescein is confirmed by measuring fluorescence of the as-prepared films. Utilizing co-solvency of PMMA in isopropanol-water mixtures, responsive behavior of the end-functionalized brushes is demonstrated by measuring the changes in fluorescence intensity between the swollen and collapsed states.