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Biomimetic phosphorylcholine polymer grafting from polydimethylsiloxane surface using photo-induced polymerization
Tatsuro Goda1, Tomohiro Konno, Madoka Takai
1Department of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Center for NanoBio Integration, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
Biomaterials
|June 27, 2006
Summary
Biomimetic phosphorylcholine polymers improve biomaterial surfaces. Grafting 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) creates hydrophilic, anti-biofouling surfaces while maintaining material integrity.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Surface Engineering
Background:
- Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used biomaterial, but its surface properties can limit applications.
- Improving surface hydrophilicity and reducing biofouling are critical for advanced biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create hydrophilic and anti-biofouling surfaces on PDMS using a biomimetic phosphorylcholine polymer.
- To evaluate the surface properties, protein adsorption, friction, oxygen permeability, and mechanical integrity of modified PDMS.
Main Methods:
- Surface-initiated photo-induced radical polymerization was used to graft 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) onto PDMS.
- Surface characterization included UV absorption, ellipsometry, XPS, ATR-FTIR, and static water contact angle (SCA) measurements.
Main Results:
- Poly(MPC) grafting significantly reduced the SCA of PDMS from 115° to 25°, indicating increased hydrophilicity.
- Protein adsorption decreased by 50-75% on poly(MPC)-grafted PDMS compared to unmodified PDMS.
- Modified PDMS retained approximately 90% of its original tensile properties and maintained high oxygen permeability.
Conclusions:
- Surface modification of PDMS with MPC effectively imparts desirable hydrophilic and anti-biofouling characteristics.
- The modified PDMS exhibits excellent biocompatibility potential, retaining key mechanical and gas permeability properties.
- This surface-modified PDMS is a promising candidate for novel medical elastomer applications.
