The present invention provides methods and apparatus for coating surfaces
with specially designed thioethers and amphiphilic thioethers that reduce
protein adsorption and/or cell adhesion. This reduction may be achieved,
for example, by controlling the spacing or length of pendant chains or
hydrophilic blocks in an amphiphilic thioether. Techniques for
determining spacing include adsorbing the thioether from a solution or a
colloidal suspension, or controlling the degree of polymerization of the
thioether. Techniques for controlling the length of the pendant chains
include controlling the degree of polymerization of the pendant chains.
Multiblock copolymers of poly(propylene sulfide) and poly(ethylene
glycol) ("PPS-PEG") represent an exemplary family of amphiphilic
thioethers. Methods for coating surfaces with amphiphilic thioethers are
also provided.