Characterization of the Hydration Process of Phospholipid-Mimetic Polymers Using Air-Injection-Mediated Liquid...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers are utilized as antifouling coatings for medical devices.
• Hydrophobic units like butyl methacrylate (PMB) and dodecyl methacrylate (PMD) are incorporated into MPC polymers.
• Understanding the hydration behavior of these polymer coatings is crucial for their performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hydration process of MPC polymer-coated surfaces using air-injection-mediated liquid exclusion (AILE).
• To correlate liquid exclusion diameter with the water-repelling properties of MPC polymer coatings.
• To analyze the swelling behavior of different MPC polymer compositions in various aqueous solutions.

Main Methods:

• Air-injection-mediated liquid exclusion (AILE) methods, including prejetted and standard AILE.
• Immersion of MPC polymer-coated surfaces in deionized water, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and cell culture media.
• Ellipsometry to observe polymer layer swelling.
• Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to analyze surface morphology changes.

Main Results:

• Liquid exclusion diameter increased with immersion time in aqueous solutions.
• Poly(MPC-co-dodecyl methacrylate) (PMD) coated surfaces showed larger liquid exclusion diameters than poly(MPC-co-butyl methacrylate) (PMB) coated surfaces.
• Ellipsometry confirmed polymer layer swelling, and SPM revealed nanosized protuberances, particularly on PMD surfaces.

Conclusions:

• AILE methods effectively elucidate the hydration process of MPC polymer-coated surfaces in diverse liquid media.
• The swelling behavior of MPC polymers is dependent on immersion time and polymer composition.
• Surface morphology changes, including protuberance formation, are linked to hydration and affect water-repelling properties.