Complement activation by sulfonated poly(ethylene glycol)-acrylate copolymers through alternative pathway

Previously, novel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and sulfonated PEG acrylate (PEG-SO₃A/OA) copolymers were prepared as coating and/or blending materials for biomedical applications. Surfaces modified with copolymers exhibited increased anti-coagulation properties and decreased plasma adsorption level due to increased hydrophilic properties and reorientation characteristics of PEG/PEG-SO₃A chains in water phase. As continuation study, anti-complement effects of PEG-SO₃/OA copolymers were investigated in vitro, and compared with those of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and PEG/OA. C3 activation by PEG-SO₃/OA samples was lower than that by PEG/OA samples, which was attributed to decreased surface nucleophile level of samples. PEG-SO₃/OA samples increased inhibition of Bb production, resulting in decreased C5 activation. Owing to reduced activations of C3 and C5, PEG-SO₃/OA samples markedly decreased SC5b-9 levels in plasma.     

Cell Spheroid Formation on the Surface of Multi-Block Copolymers Composed of Poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) and Polyethylene Glycol

3D structured cells have great drug screening potential because they mimic in vivo tissues better than 2D cultured cells. In this study, multi-block copolymers composed of poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are developed as a new kind of biocompatible polymers. PEG imparts non-cell adhesion while PMEA acts as an anchoring segment to prepare the polymer coating surface. The multi-block copolymers show higher stability in water than PMEA. A specific micro-sized swelling structure composed of a PEG chain is observed in the multi-block copolymer film in water. A single NIH3T3-3-4 spheroid is formed in 3 h on the surface of the multi-block copolymers with 8.4 wt% PEG. However, at a PEG content of 0.7 wt%, spheroid formed after 4 days. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity of cells and the internal necrotic state of the spheroid change depending on PEG loading in the multi-block copolymers. As the formation rate of cell spheroid on low-PEG-ratio multi-block copolymers is slow, internal necrosis of cell spheroid is less likely to occur. Consequently, the cell spheroid formation rate by changing the PEG chain content in multi-block copolymers is successfully controlled. These unique surfaces are suggested to be useful for 3D cell culture.     

Interactions of ADP-stimulated human platelets with PEGylated polystyrene substrates prepared by surface amidation

A study primarily focused on the interactions between ADP-stimulated human platelets and PEGylated polystyrene substrates is described in this paper. The platelet–surface interactions were investigated using colorimetric acid phosphatase assay. Two types of amine-containing polymeric hydrogel materials based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), H₂N–PEG–OCH₃ and H₂N–PEG–NH₂, were used to PEGylate polystyrene surfaces derivatized with maleic anhydride by amidation at alkaline pH. In addition, comparative studies using surfaces non-covalently adsorbed by bovine serum albumin (BSA) or fibrinogen (Fg) were also conducted. The assay results showed that no significant platelet adhesion was observed when PEGylated surfaces or BSA-coated surfaces were exposed to unstimulated gel-filtered platelets (GFP). However, upon ADP-stimulation, platelet adhesion to the surfaces under investigation in this study all increased to varying degrees. Most importantly, the results showed that polystyrene surfaces PEGylated using H₂N–PEG–NH₂ were most effective in resisting platelet adhesion when assays were performed using ADP-stimulated GFP. By PEGylating the surfaces of polystyrene microtiter wells via the amidation reaction described in this paper, it is demonstrated that (i) higher degree of surface PEGylation is favored at more alkaline pH and (ii) polystyrene substrates capable of more effectively resisting the adhesion of ADP-stimulated GFP can be obtained by the PEGylation reaction carried out at pH 9.1 using H₂N–PEG–NH₂.     

包覆Fe2O3超微粒的苯乙烯/丙烯酸/丙烯酸丁酯核-壳型复合共聚物的性能研究

对采用种子乳液聚合法合成的包覆Fe₂O₃超微粒的苯乙烯/丙烯酸/丙烯酸丁酯(St/AA/BA)核-壳型复合共聚物材料进行玻璃化温度测试,结果表明,加入Fe₂O₃超微粒,使复合共聚物的玻璃化温度显著降低.对复合共聚物的流变行为研究表明,复合共聚物的非牛顿指数均小于1,且随着Fe₂O₃含量增加,非牛顿性增强,表观粘度下降,粘流活化能降低.     

聚苯乙烯大单体与丙烯酸丁酯接枝共聚物的微观分相与表面性能研究

研究了以大单体技术合成的不同侧链长度的苯乙烯与丙烯酸丁酯的接枝共聚物的侧链长度对其微观分相与表面性能的影响,发现仅当聚苯乙烯侧链分子量大于5900时,才可能发生部分微观相分离,分离后对其表面性能影响不明显。临界表面张力r_c虽有差异,但色散力部分y_s^D的计算值却较一致,与所用参照液无关。实验证实,接枝共聚物的表面几乎全被低表面能的聚丙烯酸丁酯骨架所复盖,呈现出明显的表面富集现象。     

Electrostatic self-assembly of PEG copolymers onto porous silica nanoparticles

A critical requirement toward the clinical use of nanocarriers in drug delivery applications is the development of optimal biointerfacial engineering procedures designed to resist biologically nonspecific adsorption events. Minimization of opsonization increases blood residence time and improves the ability to target solid tumors. We report the electrostatic self-assembly of polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol (PEI-PEG) copolymers onto porous silica nanoparticles. PEI-PEG copolymers were synthesized and their adsorption by self-assembly onto silica surfaces were investigated to achieve a better understanding of structure-activity relationships. Quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) study confirmed the rapid and stable adsorption of the copolymers onto silica-coated QCM sensors driven by strong electrostatic interactions. XPS and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to analyze the coated surfaces, which indicated the presence of dense PEG layers on the silica nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering was used to optimize the coating procedure. Monodisperse dispersions of the PEGylated nanoparticles were obtained in high yields and the thin PEG layers provided excellent colloidal stability. In vitro protein adsorption tests using 5% serum demonstrated the ability of the self-assembled copolymer layers to resist biologically nonspecific fouling and to prevent aggregation of the nanoparticles in physiological environments. These results demonstrate that the electrostatic self-assembly of PEG copolymers onto silica nanoparticles used as drug nanocarriers is a robust and efficient procedure, providing excellent control of their biointerfacial properties.     

Microstructure determination of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone/butyl acrylate copolymers by NMR spectroscopy

The copolymer composition of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone/butyl acrylate (V/B) copolymers was determined from the quantitative ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra. The monomer reactivity ratios for N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (V) and butyl acrylate (B) were found to be r_V=0.11±0.07, r_B=0.54±0.19, using the Kelen–Tudos and non-linear least-square error-in-variable (EVM) methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers are overlapping and complex. The complete spectral assignment of the carbon and proton NMR spectra were done by employing distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) and two-dimensional (2D) ¹³C–¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopy experiments. The 2D total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) (¹H–¹H homonuclear TOCSY) NMR spectrum was used to ascertain the various geminal and vicinal couplings in the copolymer.     

聚氧乙烯功能基复合修饰聚氨酯的合成及其血液相容性研究 (Ⅰ)──聚氨酯-接枝-十八烷基聚氧乙烯

通过十八烷基聚氧乙烯和环氧氯丙烷的封端反应制备了α-环氧基-ω-十八烷基聚氧乙烯大单体.并采用BF₃·Et₂O引发THF和大单体共聚合,得到了梳状的十八烷基聚氧乙烯接枝共聚醚.以该共聚醚为软段合成了十八烷基和聚氧乙烯复合修饰的聚氨酯(PEU-g-PEO-C₁₈).通过血小板粘附试验对材料的体外抗凝血性实验结果表明,采用具有选择性吸附白蛋白功能的十八烷基和PEO复合修饰聚氨酯,材料表面血小板粘附量明显减少.材料血液相容性的改善可能来源于疏水性的十八烷基和亲水性聚氧乙烯的协同作用.     

Surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate using PEO-polybutadiene-PEO triblock copolymers

The initial step of thrombus formation on blood-contacting biomaterials is known to be adsorption of blood proteins followed by platelet adhesion. It is generally accepted that surface modification of the biomaterials with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) substantially reduces protein adsorption and cell adhesion. Dacron® (polyethylene terephthalate) fabric, which is one of the biomaterials commonly used in blood-contacting devices, was grafted with PEO. A simple two-step procedure for covalent grafting of PEO onto the surface of Dacron® fabric was used. The surface was first treated with PEO-polybutadiene-PEO (PEO-PB-PEO) triblock copolymer, to introduce a layer of double bonds onto the surface. The Dacron® surface was then exposed to a solution of Pluronic® F108 (PF108), a commercially available PEO-poly(propylene oxide)-PEO (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer. The surface with two adsorbed layers of PEO-PB-PEO and PF108 was γ-irradiated in the presence of PF108 in the bulk solution for a total radiation dose of 0.8 Mrad. The bulk concentrations of PEO-PB-PEO and PF108 were varied to maximize the efficiency of PEO grafting. Fibrinogen adsorption on PEO-grafted surfaces was reduced more than 90%, compared with that on control surfaces, irrespective of the bulk concentrations of polymers used for grafting. Platelet adhesion was also reduced substantially by PEO grafting. Only a few round platelets were able to adhere to the PEO-grafted surface, while the control surface was fully covered with aggregates of activated platelets. PEO grafting on polyethylene terephthalate using PEO-PB-PEO and PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers is a simple approach that can be used for various other biomaterials.     

H型(PS)2PEG(PS)2嵌段共聚物在旋涂过程中的结晶行为

采用原子力显微镜和X射线衍射等手段研究了H型(PS)₂PEG(PS)2嵌段共聚物在不同溶剂和不同浓度的溶液中旋涂所得薄膜的形貌, 并与聚乙二醇(PEG)均聚物进行了比较. 虽然(PS)₂PEG(PS)₂中PS的链长很短, 但对形貌有很大影响, PS链段的存在改变了聚合物在基底上的稳定性, 使用四氢呋喃为溶剂, 当溶液浓度较小时, 在旋涂过程中发生去润湿, 然后再发生结晶, 膜厚较大时去润湿被抑止, 所得形貌与PEG均聚物类似. 以甲苯为溶剂时, 由于PEG和PS与溶剂的相互作用不同, 共聚物在溶液中形成胶束, 从而改变了聚合物的结晶形貌.     

Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer membranes for selective separation of CO2

A series of copolymers containing ether oxygen groups and amino groups were prepared based on N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMEMA) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methyl acrylate (PEGMEMA). The effect of PEGMEMA content in the copolymer on density, free volume, mechanical performance, and H₂, CO₂, N₂ and CH₄ gas transport properties of the copolymer was determined. Free volume was characterized using the polymer density and group contribution theory. The permeability of the copolymer to CO₂ is high, and both the CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/H₂ selectivities are high. For example, the permeability coefficient of PDMAEMA–PEGMEMA-90 (“90” represents the weight percent of PEGMEMA) to CO₂ is 112 Barrer and the CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/H₂ selectivity coefficients are 31 and 7, respectively. The effect of the temperature on gas transport properties was also determined. Finally, the potential application of the copolymer membranes for CO₂/light gases separation was explored.     

Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Epoxy Surfaces Prepared by a Facile Process with Fluorosilicone Copolymer and SiO2 Nano-Particle

Hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces with multi-scale structures were prepared on epoxy coating surfaces by using a facile process with fluorosilicone copolymer and SiO₂ nano-particles. The fluorosilicone copolymers were synthesized using perfluoroalkyl acrylate (FA), vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and styrene (St) as comonomers via radical emulsion polymerization. In this paper, the surface properties of epoxy coating modified by fluorosilicone copolymer and SiO₂ nano-particles were analyzed by using the contact angle measurement. The results showed that the modified epoxy coating surface exhibited not only excellent hydrophobicity but also oleophobicity, the water contact angle reached as high as 149° and the oil (atoleine) contact angle 101°, respectively.     

Y-shaped block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) synthesized by ATRP

Novel Y-shaped block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide),PEG-b-(PNIPAM)_2,were successfully synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization(ATRP).A difunctional macroinitiator was prepared by esterification of 2,2-dichloroacetyl chloride with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether(PEG).The copolymers were obtained via the ATRP of N-isopropylacrylamide(NIPAM) at 30℃with CuCl/Me_6TREN as a catalyst system and DMF/H_2O(v/v = 3:1) mixture as solvent.The resulting copo...     

Surface modification of polyurethane for enhanced blood compatibility

Surfaces of commercial polyurethanes (PUs) were modified by poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) grafting and/or heparin immobilization or sulfonation to investigate the effect to antithrombogenicity. The hydrophilicity of the modified PUs surface was significantly increased. All the PEO-grafted PU surfaces displayed very little platelet adhesion and activation. The coupled heparin or sulfonate at the end of PEO exhibited anticoagulant activity to extend APTT. Lowering in vitro platelet adhesion of modified PUs led to a prolongation in the ex vivo occlusion time. In particular, the sulfonated PU-PEO surface showed the most enhanced blood compatibility due to the synergistic effects of PEO and SO₃ groups.     

Spectral force analysis using atomic force microscopy reveals the importance of surface heterogeneity in bacterial and colloid adhesion to engineered surfaces

Coatings developed to reduce biofouling of engineered surfaces do not always perform as expected based on their native properties. One reason is that a relatively small number of highly adhesive sites, or the heterogeneity of the coated surface, may control the overall response of the system to initial bacterial deposition. It is shown here using an approach we call spectral force analysis (SFA), based on force volume imaging of the surface with atomic force microscopy, that the behavior of surfaces and coatings can be better understood relative to bacterial adhesion. The application of vapor deposited TiO₂ metal oxide increased bacterial and colloid adhesion, but coating the surface with silica oxide reduced adhesion in a manner consistent with SFA based on analysis of the “stickiest” sites. Application of a TiO₂-based paint to a surface produced a relatively non-fouling surface. Addition of a hydrophilic layer coating to this surface should have decreased fouling. However, it was observed that this coating actually increased fouling. Using SFA it was shown that the reason for the increased adhesion of bacteria and particles to the hydrophilic layer was that the surface produced by this coating was highly heterogeneous, resulting in a small number of sites that created a stickier surface. These results show that while it is important to manufacture surfaces with coatings that are relatively non-adhesive to bacteria, it is also essential that these coatings have a highly uniform surface chemistry.     

不饱和糖功能单体接枝聚氨酯膜的制备及其血液相容性

通过葡萄糖、丙烯酸羟乙酯和丁二胺反应,制备了含不饱和双键的糖基功能单体。 采用傅里叶红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱对合成的产物进行结构表征确定。 采用紫外光引发接枝聚合技术,将制备的不饱和糖单体接枝聚合到聚氨酯膜的表面,以衰减全反射模式下傅里叶红外光谱对表面接枝反应进行了确认。 通过静态水接触角实验和血小板黏附实验,分别对改性聚氨酯膜表面的亲水性和血液相容性进行了研究,结果表明,改性聚氨酯膜表面的接触角从86°降低到45°,血小板的粘附量由14.36×10³ cells/mm²减少到2.57×10³ cells/mm²,亲水性明显增强,血液相容性显著改善。     

Elastic/adhesive double-layered PLA-PEG multiblock copolymer membranes for postoperative adhesion prevention

Tissue adhesions cause severe and life-threatening conditions, including pain, infertility, and heart defects. The purpose of this study is to develop an anti-adhesion membrane that sticks onto the injured tissues or organs in order to avoid the suturing of the membrane which may lead to the unnecessary tissue adhesion. We previously developed poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) multiblock copolymers as soft, water absorbable, and quickly degradable biomaterials. The copolymer with the highest PEG content adsorbs body fluid in vivo and sticks to the tissues. In the present study thin film and nanofiber mat were prepared from the copolymer and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The hydrophilicity and the degradation rate increased with the increased PEG content of the multiblock copolymers. The copolymer with PEG content of 88% (LE(m)-88) was quickly swollen, become viscous, and rapidly collapsed in PBS, which was suitable feature for adhesion prevention material without suturing. Various double layered membranes with different characteristics were evaluated in vivo by applying onto the cecum scrubbed with abrasive paper, and onto the heart surface after pericardium removal. LE(m)-88 was swollen with tissue fluid and had a hydrogel-like nature. LE(m)-88 film/LE(m)-32 film double layered membrane was found to be the most effective in preventing tissue adhesion in cecum model. This excellent performance was confirmed in the rat heart adhesion model. In both models, the LE(m)-32 support film was detached from the site of application, which leads to the healing without adhesion.     

含悬挂羧基手臂聚乳酸材料的内皮细胞黏附及其细胞活性

为了考察内皮化材料表面的细胞活性, 在前期工作的基础上, 分别在聚乳酸(PLA)、乳酸-苹果酸共聚物(PLMA), 以及含悬挂羟基或羧基的乳酸-苹果酸共聚物膜(PLMAHE,PLMACA)表面种植人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC), 成功地制备了内皮化表面. 通过测定内皮化材料表面内皮细胞释放的内皮型一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)以及一氧化氮的释放量, 间接考察了内皮细胞的抗凝血活性; 另外, 通过内皮化表面的血小板黏附实验, 直接观察了血小板在内皮细胞上的黏附情况. 实验结果表明, 含羧基材料表面的内皮细胞活性比PLA和PLMAHE的高; 相对其它材料PLMACA能更有效地保留黏附于其表面内皮细胞的活性, 其单位内皮细胞的eNOS以及NO的释放量分别为(41.8±8.1) μmol/104 cells和(0.76±0.16) U/104 cells. 电镜照片(SEM)显示, 各种材料表面的内皮细胞均能有效地减少血小板的黏附与聚集; 在内皮细胞脱落的区域, PLMACA仍能较好地实现其抑制血小板黏附的功能, 有望成为新型血管修复(替代)材料.     

Surface modification of polyethersulfone membranes by blending triblock copolymers of methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol)-polyurethane-methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol)

The surface of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was modified by blending triblock copolymers of methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol)-polyurethane-methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-PU-mPEG), which were synthesized through solution polymerization with mPEG Mns of 500 and 2000, respectively. The PES and PES/mPEG-PU-mPEG blended membranes were prepared through spin coating coupled with liquid-liquid phase separation. FTIR and (1)H NMR analysis confirmed that the triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized. The functional groups and morphologies of the membranes were studied by ATR-FTIR and SEM, respectively. It was found that the triblock copolymers were blended into PES membranes successfully, and the morphologies of the blended membranes were somewhat different from PES membrane. The water contact angles and platelet adhesion were decreased after blending mPEG-PU-mPEG into PES membranes. Meanwhile, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) for the blended membranes increased. The anti-protein-fouling property and permeation property of the blended membranes improved obviously. SEM observation and 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay proved the surfaces of the blended membranes promoted human hepatocytes adhesion and proliferation better than PES membrane.     

含氟丙烯酸酯共聚物制备超疏水表面及其形成机理的研究

以丙烯酸全氟烷基乙基酯和甲基丙烯酸甲酯为共聚单体, 分别以用微乳液聚合法和溶液聚合法制备的无规共聚物和用可逆加成-断裂链转移制备的嵌段共聚物作为成膜共聚物, 并以1,1,2-三氟三氯乙烷作为溶剂, 采用溶剂挥发成膜法可以直接制备出超疏水膜, 聚合物膜对水的接触角可达160°. 改变聚合物结构和成膜条件, 探讨了该类超疏水膜的形成机理和影响因素. 发现膜的表面形貌和疏水性与共聚物的组成、结构、分子量以及成膜条件密切相关, 随着共聚物中氟含量的增大, 膜的表面形貌都趋于平滑; 而且, 无规共聚物比嵌段共聚物更易形成粗糙度好的膜; 同时, 较大的聚合物分子量和适宜的高的成膜温度都对形成粗糙结构有利.