Polyurethane (PU)-derived photoactive and copper-free clickable surface based on perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) chemistry

The anchoring and capturing roles of perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA) were combined to produce a universal polyurethane (PU)-derived photoactive surface platform (PU-1-PFPA). The resultant platform was confirmed by contact angle, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Upon UV light activation, native heparin was coupled directly onto PU-1-PFPA to yield a substrate with antithrombogenic properties. The same level of antithrombogenic activity was achieved when the recovered heparin was photo-coupled onto PU-1-PFPA. In addition, at room temperature and in the absence of copper catalysts, PU-1-PFPA achieved oriented immobilization of functional moieties bearing an alkynyl functional group.