Adhesion of preosteoblasts and fibroblasts onto poly(pentafluorostyrene)-based glycopolymeric films and their biocompatibility

An efficient and metal‐catalyst free method of glycopolymer synthesis via thiol/para‐fluorine “click” reaction was used to graft acetylated 1‐thio‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose and 1‐thio‐β‐D ‐galactopyranose onto a homopolymer of pentafluorostyrene (PFS) as well as onto a block copolymer of styrene and PFS. Subsequent deprotection of the carbohydrate moieties yielded well‐defined, sugar‐modified polymers (PDI < 1.2). The prepared polymers were not cytotoxic against 3T3 fibroblasts and MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts. Furthermore, the water‐insoluble copolymers were drop‐cast and examined as synthetic biocompatible coatings on poly(propylene) substrates for culturing the investigated cell types. Both fibro‐ and preosteoblasts showed stable adhesion and proliferation on the glycopolymer‐coated surfaces.