Synthesis and characterisation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) polyelectrolyte complexes.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Copolymerization of charged and neutral monomers is a key method for creating polyelectrolytes.
• Polyelectrolyte complexes offer tunable properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• Synthesize novel polyelectrolyte complexes via radical copolymerization.
• Investigate the structural, swelling, mechanical, and biological properties of the synthesized terpolymers.
• Evaluate the influence of monomer stoichiometry on terpolymer characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Radical copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with cationic and anionic monomers.
• Characterization using FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
• Swelling studies, mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and cytotoxicity/cytocompatibility assays.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of terpolymers with varying cationic and anionic monomer ratios (10:1:1 and 10:1:2).
• XPS confirmed a cationic charge excess on the 10:1:2 terpolymer surface.
• The 10:1:2 terpolymer demonstrated pH-responsive swelling and enhanced mechanical stability due to ionic interactions.
• All synthesized materials exhibited non-toxicity, with the 10:1:2 terpolymer promoting fibroblast adhesion.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized terpolymers, particularly the 10:1:2 composition, exhibit promising smart material properties and biocompatibility.
• Ionic co-operative interactions significantly enhance the mechanical stability of the terpolymer networks.
• The cationic surface charge of the 10:1:2 terpolymer facilitates fibroblast adhesion, suggesting potential for tissue engineering applications.