Soft polymer coatings are widely applied in biomaterials science as they allow for tailoring of surface properties and implementation of advanced functional features into traditional materials. The optimization of the coating performance in biomedical and technical applications necessarily requires the measurement, analysis, and understanding of their physico-chemical properties. We develop and apply tailored theories for the evaluation of streaming current, surface conductivity, and swelling measurements at soft surfaces for a comprehensive characterization of the film charge and structure. The theoretical framework is applicable without limitations on the segment density distribution, the film thickness, and the charge density within the film. The theory was further combined with self-consistent field methods to provide detailed insights molecular architecture of polymer brushes. Current activities are dedicated to the development of concepts for capturing hydration-related effects in crowded biological environments.
