Zwitterionic Ammonium Sulfonate Polymers: Synthesis and Properties in Fluids

Embedding Thiols into Choline Phosphate Polymer Zwitterions

The compositional scope of polymer zwitterions has grown significantly in recent years and now offers designer synthetic materials that are broadly applicable across numerous areas, including supracolloidal structures, electronic materials interfaces, and macromolecular therapeutics. Among recent developments in polymer zwitterion syntheses are those that allow insertion of reactive functionality directly into the zwitterionic moiety, yielding new monomer and polymer structures that hold potential for maximizing the impact of zwitterions on the macromolecular materials chemistry field. This manuscript describes the preparation of zwitterionic choline phosphate (CP) methacrylates containing either aromatic or aliphatic thiols embedded directly into the zwitterionic moiety. The polymerization of these functional CP methacrylates by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer methodology yields polymeric zwitterionic thiols containing protected thiol functionality in the zwitterionic units. After polymerization, the protected thiols are liberated to yield thiol-rich polymer zwitterions which serve as precursors to subsequent reactions that produce polymer networks as well as polymer-protein bioconjugates.

Catheters with Dual-Antimicrobial Properties by Gamma Radiation-Induced Grafting

Dual antimicrobial materials that have a combination of antimicrobial and antifouling properties were developed. They were developed through modification using gamma radiation of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) catheters with 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP) and subsequent functionalization with 1,3-propane sultone (PS). These materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, swelling tests, and contact angle to determine their surface characteristics. In addition, the capacity of the materials to deliver ciprofloxacin, inhibit bacterial growth, decrease bacterial and protein adhesion, and stimulate cell growth were evaluated. These materials have potential applications in the manufacturing of medical devices with antimicrobial properties, which can reinforce prophylactic potential or even help treat infections, through localized delivery systems for antibiotics.

2-Hydroxy-3-(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonate and 3-(4-Vinylbenzyl)dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate as New Zwitterionic Monomers

Zwitterionic polymers emerge as very useful materials for applications in antifouling surfaces. The properties of these polymers can be tuned by variations of the chemical structure of the corresponding monomer. In this study, two zwitterionic ammonium sulfonate monomers, bearing hydroxyl function and styrenic polymerizable groups, were prepared in two steps. The two monomers were obtained using 4-vinylbenzyl chloride as the key precursor. The zwitterionic monomers were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). These two monomers enable the preparation of novel zwitterionic polymers with enhanced hydrophilicity, due to the presence of a hydroxyl group.