Effect of Poly(Oxanorbonene)- and Poly(Methacrylate)-Based Polyzwitterionic Surface Coatings on Cell Adhesion and Gene Expression of Human Keratinocytes.

Polyzwitterions are generally known for their anti-adhesive properties, including resistance to protein and cell adhesion, and overall high bio-inertness. Yet there are a few polyzwitterions to which mammalian cells do adhere. To understand the structural features of this behavior, a panel of polyzwitterions with different functional groups and overall degrees of hydrophobicity is analyzed here, and their physical and biological properties are correlated to these structural differences.

Stimulus-Responsive Polyelectrolyte Surfaces: Switching Surface Properties from Polycationic/Antimicrobial to Polyzwitterionic/Protein-Repellent.

Surfaces coated with polyzwitterions are most well-known for their ability to resist protein adsorption. In this article, a surface-attached hydrophobically modified poly(carboxybetaine) is presented. When protonated by changes of the pH of the surrounding medium, this protein-repellent polyzwitterion switches to a polycationic state in which it is antimicrobially active and protein-adhesive.

Bifunctional Bioactive Polymer Surfaces with Micrometer and Submicrometer-sized Structure: The Effects of Structure Spacing and Elastic Modulus on Bioactivity.

This study presents a comparison of two types of bifunctional structured surface that were made from the same polymer -- an antimicrobial polycation (a synthetic mimic of an antimicrobial peptide, SMAMP) and a protein-repellent polyzwitterion (poly(sulfobetaines), PSB). The first type of bifunctional surface was fabricated by a colloidal lithography (CL) based process where the two polymers were immobilized sequentially onto pre-structured surfaces with a chemical contrast (gold on silicon). This enabled site-selective covalent attachment.

Simultaneously Antimicrobial, Protein-repellent and Cell-compatible Polyzwitterion Networks: More Insight on Bioactivity and Physical Properties.

A poly(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterion with primary ammonium and carboxylate groups () has been reported previously as the first simultaneously antimicrobial and protein-repellent polyzwitterion. Here, additional physical and biological properties of three poly(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterions with different functional groups (, the polycarboxybetaine , and the polysulfobetaine ) are compared to understand the molecular origins of this unusual bioactivity. Additionally, the three polyzwitterions and the antimicrobial, polycationic are exposed to proteins, bacteria suspensions, human plasma and serum.

Synthesis and Bioactivity of Polymer-Based Synthetic Mimics of Antimicrobial Peptides (SMAMPs) Made from Asymmetrically Disubstituted Itaconates.

A series of asymmetrically disubstituted diitaconate monomers is presented. Starting from itaconic anhydride, functional groups could be placed selectively at the two nonequivalent carbonyl groups. By using 2D NMR spectroscopy, it was shown that the first functionalization step occurred at the carbonyl group in the β position to the double bond.

A Simultaneously Antimicrobial, Protein-Repellent, and Cell-Compatible Polyzwitterion Network.

A simultaneously antimicrobial, protein-repellent, and cell-compatible surface-attached polymer network is reported, which reduces the growth of bacterial biofilms on surfaces through its multifunctionality. The coating was made from a poly(oxonorbornene)-based zwitterion (PZI), which was surface-attached and cross-linked in one step by simultaneous UV-activated CH insertion and thiol-ene reaction. The process was applicable to both laboratory surfaces like silicon, glass, and gold and real-life surfaces like polyurethane foam wound dressings.