Biomimetic Silver-Containing Colloids of Poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) and Their Film-Formation Properties

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 28; no. 11; pp. 4974 - 4983
• Main Authors: Fuchs, Adrian V, Walter, Constanze, Landfester, Katharina, Ziener, Ulrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 20.03.2012
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials; Biomimetics; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Colloids; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Methacrylates - chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Phosphorylcholine - analogs & derivatives; Phosphorylcholine - chemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Polymethacrylic Acids; Powder Diffraction; Silver - chemistry; Solid-liquid interface; Surface physical chemistry; Thermogravimetry; Water; Atomic force microscopy; Particle size; Film; Nanoparticle; Immersion; Design; Particle; Hema; Synthesis; Ostwald ripening; Inverse; Copolymer; Hydrazine; Scanning electron microscopy; Annealing; Thermogravimetry; Polymerization; Transition metal; Contact angle; Droplet; X ray diffraction; Colloid; Dispersion; Drop; Thickness; Silver; Transmission electron microscopy; Antibacterial agent; Ultraviolet visible spectrometry
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la204673z

The synthesis of stable dispersions of hybrid colloids comprising copolymers of biocompatible 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and zwitterionic, biomimetic 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) incorporating antibacterial AgBF4 by inverse miniemulsion is described. The prepared hybrid colloids were designed to provide both antibacterial and antifouling properties for the formation of interesting, multifunctional films. The obtained particles had sizes in the range of 130–160 nm with two different weight ratios of MPC to HEMA (1:10 and 2:5) and AgBF4 contents between 0% and 15%. The silver salt takes on the role of the lipophobe in stabilizing the miniemulsion droplets against Ostwald ripening and is reduced after polymerization to Ag nanoparticles by gaseous hydrazine. Subsequently, the hybrid particles are transformed into smooth and stable films with thicknesses between 145 and 225 nm by simple drop casting and solvent annealing. The dispersions and films were thoroughly characterized by DLS, TEM, SEM, EDX, TGA, UV–vis spectroscopy, ICP-OES, XRD, AFM, and contact angle measurements. After immersion into water, the films did not show detectable leakage of silver, so they could be employed as dual-functional antifouling and antibacterial coatings.