Switchable surfaces hydrophobic interaction

Like a bulk responsive material, surface of a substrate can be responsive upon electrochemical, photo, temperature, pH, mechanical, or electrical stimuli (Lahann Langer, 2005). Researchers are developing different ways to make these smart surfaces such as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), polymer brushes, or copolymer coatings. A classic example is a switchable SAM surface in responsive to electric potential, which achieve hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition on a gold substrate. The switchable surfaces provide an idea platform to smdy surface-biological system interactions (Lahann et al., 2003). Polymer brushes and copolymers are more practical avenues to be applied with long-term performance. 

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