Thermo-Responsive Polymer Brushes as Intelligent Biointerfaces: Preparation via ATRP and Characterization

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 400 - 409
• Main Authors: Nagase, Kenichi, Watanabe, Minami, Kikuchi, Akihiko, Yamato, Masayuki, Okano, Teruo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 10.03.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Acrylic Resins - chemical synthesis; Acrylic Resins - chemistry; Acrylic Resins - pharmacology; Adhesion; Adsorption - drug effects; Animals; atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); Biocompatible Materials - chemical synthesis; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Brushes; Carotid Arteries - cytology; Cattle; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Shape - drug effects; cells; Density; Endothelial Cells - cytology; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Fibronectin; Fibronectins - pharmacology; Glass; Grafting; Materials Testing - methods; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; polymer brushes; Polymerization - drug effects; stimuli-sensitive polymers; Surface chemistry; Surface Properties - drug effects; Temperature; Wettability; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201000312

PIPAAm‐brush grafted glass substrates with various graft densities and chain lengths were prepared via surface‐initiated ATRP. Temperature‐dependent physicochemical properties of the surfaces were characterized by means of ATR/FT‐IR spectroscopy, XPS, AFM, and contact angle measurements. ATRP conditions influence the amount of grafted PIPAAm and the surface wettability and roughness of the substrate. Fibronectin adsorption and EC adhesion increased with decreasing density of PIPAAm brushes. EC adhesion was diminished with increasing PIPAAm graft length. Thus, the preparation of PIPAAm brush surface with various graft densities and chain lengths using the surface‐initiated ATRP is an effective method for modulating thermo‐responsive properties of surfaces. Thermo‐responsive polymer brushes with various graft densities and chain lengths were prepared on glass substrates by surface‐initiated ATRP. Cell adhesion and protein adsorption were enhanced with diluting polymer brush density, due to the exposure of grafted phenethyl group onto outer surfaces. These unique properties are valuable for designing novel biointerfaces.