Tuned Surface and Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Film Prepared by Random Copolymers Consisting of Methacrylate‐POSS and 2‐(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl Phosphorylcholine

Abstract

Poly(2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) is known as a biocompatible polymers. Copolymerization of 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and hydrophobic monomers is a general approach that gives bioinert functions to solid materials via the surface coating. However, due to the amorphous nature and super hydrophilicity of the MPC‐based copolymers, both the surface and the mechanical properties are not controlled for biomedical applications. Here, the modulated mechanical property and the surface wettability of the MPC‐based copolymers are shown by using a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) methacrylate. MPC is copolymerized with POSS methacrylates bearing different vertex groups of ethyl (C2H5), hexayl (C6H13), and octayl (C8H17) via radical polymerization. It is found that only the C2H5‐POSS induces the increased mechanical strength, low surface wettability, and cellular attachment, suggesting that the C2H5‐POSS moiety restricts the motion of PMPC chain. The finding is anticipated to be tuned for both surface and bulk functions of PMPC for biomedical applications.

Hydrophobic Nature of Methacrylate-POSS in Combination with 2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl Phosphorylcholine for Enhanced Solubility and Controlled Release of Paclitaxel

“…As we reported before, number-average molecular weight (Mn) of all the POSS-MA MPC polymers was in the range of 10 4 , and the POSS-based MPC copolymers were soluble in water 21 .…”

“…It was observed that the CAC value of the copolymers increased with the R groups (C2H5, C6H13, C8H17) in the POSS moiety. Our previous study showed that C2H5-POSS moiety in the Poly MPC matrix increased the hydrophobicity at water-polymer interface 21 . Due to the increased hydrophobicity of C2H5-POSS-MPC, CAC value was found to be lower than the other copolymers.…”

“…We have synthesized R-POSS-based MPC random copolymers (R-groups are ethyl (C2H5), hexyl (C6H13), octyl (C8H17)), and studied its mechanical, thermal and surface properties 21 . Our study showed that the incorporation of only the C2H5-POSS in polyMPC matrix increased the hydrophobicity at water-polymer interface.…”

Amphiphilic Copolymer of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Methacrylate for Solid Dispersion of Paclitaxel

“…Based on those perspectives of the MPC-based amphiphilic copolymers, this study focused on the MPC as a hydrophilic monomer as well as the chemical structure of hydrophobic monomers, because the BMA part of poly[MPC- co -BMA] as mentioned above is not optimized for controlling the interaction with PTX. In a previous study, a random copolymer was synthesized by using the MPC and ethyl (C 2 H 5 ) group-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) methacrylate (MA) as a hydrophobic monomer [18]. The obtained copolymer (MPC- ran -C 2 H 5 -POSS; Figure 1a) was not cytotoxic [18], and it formed a hydrophobic domain in water through the hydrophobic interaction of the C 2 H 5 -POSS moiety.…”

“…In a previous study, a random copolymer was synthesized by using the MPC and ethyl (C 2 H 5 ) group-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) methacrylate (MA) as a hydrophobic monomer [18]. The obtained copolymer (MPC- ran -C 2 H 5 -POSS; Figure 1a) was not cytotoxic [18], and it formed a hydrophobic domain in water through the hydrophobic interaction of the C 2 H 5 -POSS moiety. In addition, it was found that the tight interaction between the C 2 H 5 -POSS and PTX was correlated with the slow release of PTX from a micelle-like assembly of MPC- ran -C 2 H 5 -POSS [19].…”