Surface-attached poly(oxanorbornene) hydrogels with antimicrobial and protein-repellent moieties : : the quest for simultaneous dual activity

Abstract: By copolymerizing an amphiphilic oxanorbornene monomer bearing N- tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protected cationic groups with an oxanorbornene-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomer, bifunctional comb copolymers were obtained. Varying the comonomer ratios led to copolymers with PEG contents between 5–25 mol %. These polymers were simultaneously surface-immobilized on benzophenone-bearing substrates and cross-linked with pentaerythritoltetrakis(3-mercapto­propionate). They were then immersed into HCl to remove the Boc groups. The thus obtained surface-attached polymer hydrogels (called SMAMP*-co-PEG) were simultaneously antimicrobial and protein-repellent. Physical characterization data showed that the substrates used were homogeneously covered with the SMAMP*-co-PEG polymer, and that the PEG moieties tended to segregate to the polymer–air interface. Thus, with increasing PEG content, the interface became increasingly hydrophilic and protein-repellent, as demonstrated by a protein adhesion assay. With 25 mol % PEG, near-quantitative protein-adhesion was observed. The antimicrobial activity of the SMAMP*-co-PEG polymers originates from the electrostatic interaction of the cationic groups with the negatively charged cell envelope of the bacteria. However, the SMAMP*-co-PEG surfaces were only fully active against E. coli, while their activity against S. aureus was already compromised by as little as 5 mol % (18.8 mass %) PEG. The long PEG chains seem to prevent the close interaction of bacteria with the surface, and also might reduce the surface charge density

Show object

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

Classification and Topics

• Keyword: Beschichtung ; Hydrogel

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2018
• Creator: Kurowska, Monika ; Widyaya, Vania Tanda ; Al-Ahmad, Ali ; Lienkamp, Karen

Further information

• DOI: 10.3390/ma11081411
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-165213
• Rights: Kein Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.