We present a general approach for using surface-grafted stimuli-responsive diblock copolymer brushes as stimuli-sensitive systems. Surface-initiated ATRP was used to grow sequentially a first block and a second block that acts as a stimuli-responsive outer layer controlling the closure or opening of the brush in water. The diblock copolymer brushes of polystyrene-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PS-b-PNIPAM) were synthesized to demonstrate the thermosensitive wetting behaviour of surfaces based on the LCST-determined solubility switching between swollen and collapsed PNIPAM chains.
