Poly(ethylene oxide)‑b‑poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) Block Copolymers for Calcium Phosphate Mineralization and Biofilm Inhibition

• Published in: Biomacromolecules Vol. 15; no. 11; pp. 3901 - 3914
• Main Authors: Mai, Tobias, Rakhmatullina, Ekaterina, Bleek, Katrin, Boye, Susanne, Yuan, Jiayin, Völkel, Antje, Gräwert, Marlies, Cheaib, Zeinab, Eick, Sigrun, Günter, Christina, Lederer, Albena, Lussi, Adrian, Taubert, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 10.11.2014
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Calcium Phosphates - antagonists & inhibitors; Calcium Phosphates - metabolism; Dental Enamel - drug effects; Dental Enamel - metabolism; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Methacrylates - chemistry; Methacrylates - pharmacology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - pharmacology; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Random Allocation; Saliva - drug effects; Saliva - metabolism; Streptococcus gordonii; Streptococcus gordonii - drug effects; Streptococcus gordonii - physiology; X-Ray Diffraction; Atom transfer polymerization; Hydroxyapatite; Sulfonate copolymer; Tooth enamel; Mineralization; Cell adhesion; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Inhibition; Streptococcus gordonii; Biomimetic reaction; Calcium phosphate; Ethylene oxide copolymer; Experimental study; Dissolution; In vitro; Biological activity; Polyelectrolyte; Streptococcaceae; Monodispersed polymer; Morphology; Preparation; Biofilm; Diblock copolymer; Methacrylate copolymer; Aqueous solution
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm500888q

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has long been used as an additive in toothpaste, partly because it reduces biofilm formation on teeth. It does not, however, reduce the formation of dental calculus or support the remineralization of dental enamel or dentine. The present article describes the synthesis of new block copolymers on the basis of PEO and poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) blocks using atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymers have very large molecular weights (over 106 g/mol) and are highly water-soluble. They delay the precipitation of calcium phosphate from aqueous solution but, upon precipitation, lead to relatively monodisperse hydroxyapatite (HAP) spheres. Moreover, the polymers inhibit the bacterial colonization of human enamel by Streptococcus gordonii, a pioneer bacterium in oral biofilm formation, in vitro. The formation of well-defined HAP spheres suggests that a polymer-induced liquid precursor phase could be involved in the precipitation process. Moreover, the inhibition of bacterial adhesion suggests that the polymers could be utilized in caries prevention.