Protein Repellency of Well-Defined, Concentrated Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Brushes by the Size-Exclusion Effect

Surface-grafted poly(acrylic acid) brushes as a precursor layer for biosensing applications: effect of graft density and swellability on the detection efficiency

Carboxyl groups along poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes attached to the surface of a gold-coated substrate served as the precursor moieties for the covalent immobilization of amino-functionalized biotin or bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form a sensing probe for streptavidin (SA) or anti-BSA detection, respectively. Surface-grafted PAA brushes were obtained by acid hydrolysis of poly(tert-butyl acrylate) brushes, formerly prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate. As determined by surface plasmon resonance, the PAA brushes immobilized with functionalized biotin or BSA probes not only showed good binding with the designated target analytes but also maintained a high resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption, especially those PAA brushes with a high surface graft density. Although the probe binding capacity can be raised as a function of the graft density of the PAA brushes or the amount of carboxyl groups along the PAA chains, the accessibility of the target analyte to the immobilized probe was limited at the high graft density of the PAA brushes. The effect was far more apparent for the BSA-anti-BSA probe-analyte pair than for the much smaller biotin-SA probe-analyte pair. The impact of the swellability of the PAA brushes, as tailored by the degree of carboxyl group activation, on both the sensing probe immobilization and analyte detection was also addressed. This investigation demonstrated that PAA brushes having a defined graft density have a promising potential as a precursor layer for biosensing applications.

Blood clearance and biodistribution of polymer brush-afforded silica particles prepared by surface-initiated living radical polymerization

The physiological properties of polymer brush-afforded silica particles prepared by surface-initiated living radical polymerization were investigated in terms of the circulation lifetime in the blood and distribution in tissues. Hydrophilic polymers consisting mainly of poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) were grafted onto silica particles by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization that was mediated by a copper complex to produce hairy hybrid particles. A series of hybrid particles was synthesized by varying the diameter of the silica core and the chain length of the polymer brush to examine the relationship between their physicochemical and physiological properties. The hybrid particles were injected intravenously into mice to investigate systematically their blood clearance and body distribution. It was revealed that the structural features of the hybrid particles significantly affected their in vivo pharmacokinetics. Some hybrid particles exhibited an excellently prolonged circulation lifetime in the blood with a half life of ∼20 h. When such hybrid particles were injected intravenously into a tumor-bearing mouse, they preferentially accumulated in tumor tissue. The tumor-targeted delivery was optically visualized using hybrid particles grafted with fluorescence-labeled polymer brushes.

A substrate-independent method for surface grafting polymer layers by atom transfer radical polymerization: reduction of protein adsorption

A general method for producing low-fouling biomaterials on any surface by surface-initiated grafting of polymer brushes is presented. Our procedure uses radiofrequency glow discharge thin film deposition followed by macro-initiator coupling and then surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) to prepare neutral polymer brushes on planar substrates. Coatings were produced on substrates with variable interfacial composition and mechanical properties such as hard inorganic/metal substrates (silicon and gold) or flexible (perfluorinated poly(ethylene-co-propylene) film) and rigid (microtitre plates) polymeric materials. First, surfaces were functionalized via deposition of an allylamine plasma polymer thin film followed by covalent coupling of a macro-initiator composed partly of ATRP initiator groups. Successful grafting of a hydrophilic polymer layer was achieved by SI-ATRP of N,N'-dimethylacrylamide in aqueous media at room temperature. We exemplified how this method could be used to create surface coatings with significantly reduced protein adsorption on different material substrates. Protein binding experiments using labelled human serum albumin on grafted materials resulted in quantitative evidence for low-fouling compared to control surfaces.

Biomimetic anchors for antifouling and antibacterial polymer brushes on stainless steel

Barnacle cement (BC) was beneficially applied on stainless steel (SS) to serve as the initiator anchor for surface-initiated polymerization. The amine and hydroxyl moieties of barnacle cement reacted with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide to provide the alkyl halide initiator for the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The hydroxyl groups of HEMA polymer (PHEMA) were then converted to carboxyl groups for coupling of chitosan (CS) to impart the SS surface with both antifouling and antibacterial properties. The surface-functionalized SS reduced bovine serum albumin adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The effectiveness of barnacle cement as an initiator anchor was compared to that of dopamine, a marine mussel inspired biomimetic anchor previously used in surface-initiated polymerization. The results indicate that the barnacle cement is a stable and effective anchor for functional surface coatings and polymer brushes.

Effect of film thickness on the antifouling performance of poly(hydroxy-functional methacrylates) grafted surfaces

The development of nonfouling biomaterials to prevent nonspecific protein adsorption and cell/bacterial adhesion is critical for many biomedical applications, such as antithrombogenic implants and biosensors. In this work, we polymerize two types of hydroxy-functional methacrylates monomers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) into polymer brushes on the gold substrate via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). We systematically examine the effect of the film thickness of polyHEMA and polyHPMA brushes on their antifouling performance in a wide range of biological media including single-protein solution, both diluted and undiluted human blood serum and plasma, and bacteria culture. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) results show a strong correlation between antifouling property and film thickness. Too thin or too thick polymer brushes lead to large protein adsorption. Surfaces with the appropriate film thickness of ∼25-45 nm for polyHPMA and ∼20-45 nm for polyHEMA can achieve almost zero protein adsorption (<0.3 ng/cm(2)) from single-protein solution and diluted human blood plasma and serum. For undiluted human blood serum and plasma, polyHEMA brushes at a film thickness of ∼20-30 nm adsorb only ∼3.0 and ∼3.5 ng/cm(2) proteins, respectively, while polyHPMA brushes at a film thickness of ∼30 nm adsorb more proteins of ∼13.5 and ∼50.0 ng/cm(2), respectively. Moreover, both polyHEMA and polyHPMA brushes with optimal film thickness exhibit very low bacteria adhesion. The excellent antifouling ability and long-term stability of polyHEMA and polyHPMA brushes make them, especially for polyHEMA, effective and stable antifouling materials for usage in blood-contacting devices.

Anti-fouling bioactive surfaces

Bioactive surfaces refer to surfaces with immobilized bioactive molecules aimed specifically at promoting or supporting particular interactions. Such surfaces are of great importance for various biomedical and biomaterials applications. In the past few years, considerable effort has been made to create bioactive surfaces by forming specific biomolecule-modified surfaces on a non-biofouling "base" or "background". Hydrophilic and bioinert polymers have been widely used as anti-fouling layers that resist non-specific protein interactions. They can also serve as "spacers" to effectively move the immobilized biomolecule away from the surface, thus enhancing its bioactivity. In this review we summarize several successful approaches for the design and preparation of bioactive surfaces based on different types of anti-fouling/spacer materials. Some perspectives on future research in this area are also presented.

Lysine-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) modified polyurethane surface with high lysine density and fibrinolytic activity

We have developed a potentially fibrinolytic surface in which a bioinert polymer is used as a spacer to immobilize lysine such that the ε-amino group is free to capture plasminogen when in contact with blood. Adsorbed plasminogen can be activated to plasmin and potentially dissolve nascent clots formed on the surface. In previous work lysine was immobilized through a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer; however, the graft density of PEG was limited and the resulting adsorbed quantity of plasminogen was insufficient to dissolve clots efficiently. The aim of the present work was to optimize the surface using graft-polymerized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) as a spacer to increase the grafting density of lysine. Such a poly(HEMA)-lysine modified polyurethane (PU) surface is expected to have increased plasminogen binding capacity and clot lysing efficiency compared with PEG-lysine modified PU. A lysine density of 2.81 nmol cm(-2) was measured on the PU-poly(HEMA)-Lys surface vs. 0.76 nmol cm(-2) on a comparable PU-PEG-Lys surface reported previously. The poly(HEMA)-lysine-modified surface was shown to reduce non-specific (fibrinogen) adsorption while binding plasminogen from plasma with high affinity. With increased plasminogen binding capacity these surfaces showed more rapid clot lysis (20 min) in a standard in vitro assay than the corresponding PEG-lysine system (40 min). The data suggest that poly(HEMA) is superior to PEG when used as a spacer in the immobilization of bioactive molecules at high density. This method of modification may also provide a generic approach for preparing bioactive PU surfaces of high activity and low non-specific adsorption of proteins.

Ferritin immobilization on patterned poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) brushes on silicon surfaces from colloid system

In this paper, we describe a graft polymerization/solvent immersion method for generating poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes in various patterns. We used a novel fabrication process, involving very-large-scale integration and oxygen plasma treatment, to generate well-defined patterns of polymerized PHEMA on patterned Si(100) surfaces. We observed brush- and mushroom-like regions for the PHEMA brushes, with various pattern resolutions, after immersing wafers presenting lines of these polymers in MeOH and n-hexane, respectively. The interaction between PHEMA and ferritin protein sheaths in MeOH and n-hexane (good and poor solvent for PHEMA, respectively) was used to capture and release ferritins from fluidic system. The “tentacles” behaver for PHEMA brushes was found through various solvents in fluidic system. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, we observed patterned ferritin Fe cores on the Si surface after pyrolysis of the patterned PHEMA brushes and ferritin protein sheaths, which verify the “tentacles” behaver for PHEMA brushes.

Essential Factors to Make Excellent Biocompatibility of Phospholipid Polymer Materials

Recently, much attention has been attracted to bio/blood compatible materials to suppress undesirable biological reactions that determine the fate of living organisms and materials. A phospholipid polymer composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) unit, which is designed by inspiration of cell membrane surface structure, is the most promising polymer biomaterial with excellent bio/blood compatibility. Progress in living radical polymerization method initiated from the surface enables preparation of a dense polymer chains on the surface, which is called as a polymer brush. The polymer brush structure has narrow molecular weight distribution and controlled chain length. So, it is ideal surface to clarify the interactions between the biomolecules and biomaterial surface that has never done. In these regards, the poly(MPC) brush surfaces are expected to be a novel class of biomaterials, and have been extensively studied its unusual properties. In this review, surface-initiated living radical polymerization of MPC and the characteristics of the poly(MPC) brush surfaces are summarized from a viewpoint of biomaterials science.

Protein purification with polymeric affinity membranes containing functionalized poly(acid) brushes

Porous nylon membranes modified with poly(acid) brushes and their derivatives can rapidly purify proteins via ion-exchange and metal-ion affinity interactions. Membranes containing poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl succinate) (poly(MES)) brushes bind 118 +/- 8 mg of lysozyme per cm(3) of membrane and facilitate purification of lysozyme from chicken egg white. Moreover, functionalization of the poly(MES) brushes with nitrilotriacetate (NTA)-Ni(2+) complexes yields membranes that bind poly(histidine)-tagged (His-tagged) ubiquitin with a capacity of 85 +/- 2 mg of protein per cm(3) of membrane. Most importantly, the membranes modified with poly(MES)-NTA-Ni(2+) allow isolation of His-tagged cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein directly from a cell extract in <10 min, and the protein purity is comparable to that achieved with commercial affinity columns. Therefore, porous nylon membranes containing functionalized poly(MES) brushes are attractive candidates for rapid, high-capacity purification of His-tagged proteins from cell extracts.

Size exclusion chromatography of quantum dots by utilizing nanoparticle repelling surface of concentrated polymer brush

We have found that the concentrated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brush showed the very good nanoparticles (NPs) repellency in its good solvent, e.g. tetrahydrofuran (THF). Whereas the oil- and hydro-phobic (fluorinated), hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces adsorbed a lot of NPs. The repellency of NPs did not depend on the surface nature of the NPs. Preparing absorption free columns for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) may enable us to separate quantum dots (QDs) and NPs according to their size. By installing the concentrated PMMA brush into silica monolith columns, we tried to achieve SEC of QDs and NPs. The concentrated PMMA brush immobilized silica monolith columns were prepared by surface initiated atom transfer polymerization of MMA. As a result, we have succeeded in separating QDs according to their size. This SEC system may be advantageous because it can be used in good solvents of the brush regardless of the stability of the surface modifier layer on the NPs.

Blood compatibility of photografted hydrogel coatings

In this work, we have evaluated the haemocompatibility of different surface modifications, intended for biomaterials and bioanalytical applications. Polystyrene slides were coated with thin hydrogel films by self-initiated photografting and photopolymerization (SIPGP) of four different monomers. The hydrogel surface modifications were thoroughly characterized and tested for their protein resistance and ability to resist platelet adhesion and activation of the coagulation system. There was very little protein adsorption from human plasma on the hydrogels prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Platelet adhesion tests performed under both static and flow conditions showed that these coatings also demonstrated very high resistance towards platelet adhesion. A small amount of platelets were found to adhere to hydrogels formed from ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate and 2-carboxyethyl methacrylate. The polystyrene substrates themselves facilitated large amounts of platelet adhesion under both static and flow conditions. Utilizing a novel setup for imaging of coagulation, it was confirmed that none of the hydrogel surfaces activated the coagulation system to any great extent. We suggest that this simple fabrication method can be used to produce hydrogel coatings with unusually high blood compatibility, suitable for demanding biomaterials applications.

Protein-resistant NTA-functionalized polymer brushes for selective and stable immobilization of histidine-tagged proteins

Protein-resistant polymeric coatings that allow highly selective immobilization of specific biomolecules are essential for biomedical applications such as microarrays, biosensing, heterogeneous catalysis, and bioengineering. Polymer brushes are particularly interesting for this purpose because their chemical structure and physical properties can easily be tailored to meet specific needs. This article explores the functionalization of two protein-resistant polymer brushes, poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) moieties that can complex histidine-tagged (His-tagged) proteins selectively and reversibly. Using fluorescence microscopy, IR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonanace, and ellipsometry, we demonstrate that His-tagged green fluorescent protein can be immobilized on NTA brushes with high stability and loading. The loading saturation reached for NTA-POEGMA is higher than that for NTA-PHEMA because of increased swelling of the former brush. Despite this higher loading capacity, NTA-POEGMA remained highly protein-resistant, which shows its potential for "clean" and specific protein immobilization. Finally, we showed that the preserved protein resistance of NTA-POEGMA brushes can be used to generate well-defined binary biofunctional patterns via a simple protocol of incubations and washes. These patterns may find applications in cell arraying and screening.

Patterned poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) brushes on silicon surfaces behave as "tentacles" to capture ferritin from aqueous solution

We have used a very large scale integration process to generate well-defined patterns of polymerized 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) on patterned Si(100) surfaces. An atom transfer radical polymerization initiator covalently bonded to the patterned surface was employed for the graft polymerization of HEMA to prepare the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes. After immersing wafers presenting lines of these polymers in water and cyclohexane, we observed brush- and mushroom-like regions, respectively, for the PHEMA brushes, with various pattern resolutions. The PHEMA brushes behaved as "tentacles" that captured ferritin complexes from aqueous solution through entanglement between the brushes and the ferritin proteins, whose ferritins were trapped due to the collapsing of the PHEMA. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, we observed patterned ferritin iron cores on the Si surface after thermal removal of the patterned PHEMA brushes and ferritin protein sheaths.

Temperature-responsive intelligent interfaces for biomolecular separation and cell sheet engineering

Temperature-responsive intelligent surfaces, prepared by the modification of an interface with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its derivatives, have been used for biomedical applications. Such surfaces exhibit temperature-responsive hydrophilic/hydrophobic alterations with external temperature changes, which, in turn, result in thermally modulated interactions with biomolecules and cells. In this review, we focus on the application of these intelligent surfaces to chromatographic separation and cell cultures. Chromatographic separations using several types of intelligent surfaces are mentioned briefly, and various effects related to the separation of bioactive compounds are discussed, including wettability, copolymer composition and graft polymer architecture. Similarly, we also summarize temperature-responsive cell culture substrates that allow the recovery of confluent cell monolayers as contiguous living cell sheets for tissue-engineering applications. The key factors in temperature-dependent cell adhesion/detachment control are discussed from the viewpoint of grafting temperature-responsive polymers, and new methodologies for effective cell sheet culturing and the construction of thick tissues are summarized.

Functionalization of Poly(ether imide) Membranes via Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization and their Use in Antifouling

Poly(ether imide) (PEI) was chloromethylated by a simple one-step method under mild conditions to provide surface benzyl chloride groups as the active initiators for the surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Functional hydrophilic polymer brushes of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate and sodium 4-styrenesulfonate, as well as their block copolymer brushes, were synthesized via surface-initiated ATRP from the chloromethylated PEI membrane surfaces. The surface-modified membranes were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using the bovine serum albumin solution adsorption test, the grafted PEI membranes showed great antifouling properties compared to the pristine PEI surface. Thus, the chloromethylated PEI membranes with the active ATRP initiators opens up opportunities for the functionalization of membranes via surface molecular design.

PHEMA hydrogels modified through the grafting of phosphate groups by ATRP support the attachment and growth of human corneal epithelial cells

Converting the surface of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel into a cell-adhesive surface has been successfully achieved through a method based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) grafting. Following activation of the surface hydroxyl groups of PHEMA by bromination, surface-initiated ATRP of mono(2-methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphate (MMEP) was conducted in a methanol-water system with Cu(I)Br as catalyst at room temperature. The conversion of PHEMA hydroxyl groups to brominated isobutyryl groups and the occurrence of grafting of PMMEP were confirmed by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Cell attachment experiments were conducted by culturing human corneal limbal epithelial cells on the PMMEP-grafted PHEMA, and on unmodified PHEMA and tissue culture plastic for comparison. The results showed that the grafted PMMEP was homogeneously distributed, and the phosphate groups appeared to significantly promote the attachment, spreading and growth of cells, at a level comparable to the tissue culture plastic.