The biocompatibility of crosslinkable copolymer coatings containing sulfobetaines and phosphobetaines.

The comparison of copolymers containing sulfobetaine or phosphobetaine moieties for use as potential biocompatible coatings has been investigated. Two statistical copolymers were produced by a free radical polymerisation technique, one based on a sulfobetaine and the other on a phosphobetaine, both with a silyl group component to allow thermal crosslinking after coating. PMMA and glass discs were dip-coated with the polymers and their properties were compared to the uncoated controls.