Fluorescent Biocompatible Tactic PMMA-QDs Thin Films

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films were prepared through solvent casting method followed by thermal treatment to completely remove the residual solvent. All three different tactic PMMAs were studied; the PMMA solution was made in chloroform at various concentrations, with 0.1wt% QDs added against the polymer mass in the polymer solution. PMMA-QDs thin films as well as the pristine PMMA thin film (as control sample) were characterized using a variety of analytical techniques to probe their structure, functionalities, and respective physicochemical properties including thickness, surface wettability, fluorescence emission, and biocompatibility using HeLa mammalian cell as a model cell line. The fluorescence emission steadily increased when the concentration of PMMA increases. The wettability test showed i-PMMA to be more hydrophilic with a smaller contact angle than the other tacticity, while a-PMMA showed to be more hydrophobic with a larger contact angle than the other tacticity. All PMMA-QDs thin films used in co-culturing with HeLa cells supported their growth and proliferation.

Local Structure Contributions to Surface Tension of a Stereoregular Polymer

“…Measurement of contact angles for stereoregular PMMA (hence, their corresponding phobicity) remains an experimental challenge. So far, the results for contact angle measurements for stereoregular PMMA have been inconclusive. − It has been hypothesized, however, that iso-PMMA is the most hydrophilic of the three tacticities and exhibits amphiphilic behavior . This is borne out in the most recent reported values, as well as in the corresponding utilization of differences in hydrophilicity, by the same research group, for application in biocompatible electrospun fibers.…”

“…So far, the results for contact angle measurements for stereoregular PMMA have been inconclusive. − It has been hypothesized, however, that iso-PMMA is the most hydrophilic of the three tacticities and exhibits amphiphilic behavior . This is borne out in the most recent reported values, as well as in the corresponding utilization of differences in hydrophilicity, by the same research group, for application in biocompatible electrospun fibers. Computed surface tension values (Figure ) follow the same trend, with iso- having the highest surface tension, implying a relatively higher presence of polar groups at the vacuum surface.…”