Synthesis Of Copolymers Using Dendronized Polyethylene Glycol And Assay Of Their Blood Compatibility And Bacterial Adhesion Activity

Thrombus formation and microbial invasion are two major complications that impedethe widespread application of blood-contacting devices. The development of new materialsthat have blood compatibility and antibacterial adhesion activity has gained increasedattention.In this study, a new class of polymers composed of hydrophilic dendronizedpolyethylene glycol methacrylate (DPEG) and hydrophobic octyne monomethylether-glycidyl methacrylate (GMA-octyne) was synthesized via click chemistry and freeradical polymerization. Different polymers were synthesized by changing the ratio of the twomonomers. The structures of the synthesized polymers were characterized by1H nuclearmagnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Their physical propertiessuch as molecular weight, polydispersity, and glass transition temperature were determinedusing gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. The synthesizedpolymers were coated on glass slides to prepare a series of polymeric surfaces. Contact anglemeasurements and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysisshowed that the polymeric surfaces had long-lasting stability. The introduction of themonomer dendronized PEG methacrylate to the polymers greatly improved the hydrophilicityof the polymeric surfaces. The blood compatibility of the synthesized polymers was evaluatedby protein (bovine serum albumin and fibrinogen) adsorption and platelet adhesion assays.Their antibacterial adhesion ability was investigated using the Gram-negative Pseudomonasaeruginosa and the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The results demonstrated that theamount of adsorbed protein, platelets, and bacteria on the polymeric surfaces decreased withincreased content of the hydrophilic monomer dendronized PEG methacrylate in the polymers.However, no obvious difference was observed when such content exceeded50mol%. Theresults suggested that the new kind of polymer could be developed as a promisingblood-contact coating material that may have extensive medical applications.