Controlled Protein Absorption and Cell Adhesion on Polymer-Brush-Grafted Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Films

Abstract

Tailoring the surface of biometallic implants with protein-resistant polymer brushes represents an efficient approach to improve the biocompability and mechanical compliance with soft human tissues. A general approach utilizing electropolymerization to form initiating group (-Br) containing poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophen)­s (poly­(EDOT)­s) is described. After the conducting polymer is deposited, neutral poly­((oligo­(ethylene glycol) methacrylate), poly­(OEGMA), and zwitterionic poly­([2-(methacryloyloxy)­ethyl]­dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)­ammonium hydroxide), poly­(SBMA), brushes are grafted by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments confirm protein resistance of poly­(OEGMA) and poly­(SBMA)-grafted poly­(EDOT)­s. The protein binding properties of the surface are modulated by the density of polymer brushes, which is controlled by the feed content of initiator-containing monomer (EDOT-Br) in the monomer mixture solution for electropolymerization. Furthermore, these polymer-grafted poly­(EDOT)­s also prevent cells to adhere on the surface