Preparation of hemocompatible cellulosic paper based on P(DMAPS)-functionalized surface

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Surface modification of paper substrates with functional layers is of growing academic and industrial interest.
• Cellulosic paper (CP) is a widely used material with potential applications requiring enhanced biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To functionalize cellulosic paper (CP) with zwitterionic poly-(3-dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl) ammoniumpropane sulfonate) (CP-g-P(DMAPS)) using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
• To investigate the hemocompatibility of the newly developed CP-g-P(DMAPS) material.

Main Methods:

• Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was employed to graft P(DMAPS) onto the CP surface.
• Graft yield was monitored with respect to polymerization time.
• Hemocompatibility was assessed through various assays, including platelet and whole blood cell adhesion, hemolysis, red blood cell morphology, coagulation time, complement activation, and platelet activation.

Main Results:

• An increase in graft yield of P(DMAPS) was observed with extended polymerization time.
• The functionalized CP-g-P(DMAPS) demonstrated significant improvements in hemocompatibility across multiple assays.
• Key improvements were noted in reduced cell adhesion, minimal hemolysis, preserved red blood cell morphology, and altered coagulation and complement activation pathways.

Conclusions:

• The zwitterionic poly(DMAPS) functionalization via ATRP effectively enhances the hemocompatibility of cellulosic paper.
• The presence of the zwitterionic moiety is crucial for achieving improved blood compatibility in modified cellulosic materials.
• This study highlights the potential of zwitterionic polymers for developing biocompatible cellulosic materials for various biomedical applications.