Green Solvent-Based Antifouling Polymer Brushes Demonstrate Excellent Hemocompatibility

Langmuir, vol. 39, pp. 18476–18485

Abstract

Medical devices are crucial for patient care, yet even the best biomaterials lead to infections and unwanted activation of blood coagulation, potentially being life-threatening. While hydrophilic polymer brushes are the best coatings to mitigate these issues, their reliance on fossil raw materials underscores the urgency of bio-based alternatives. In this work, we introduce polymer brushes of a green solvent-based monomer, prohibiting protein adsorption, bacterial colonization, and blood clot formation at the same level as fossil-based polymer brushes. The polymer brushes are composed of N, N -dimethyl lactamide acrylate (DMLA), can be polymerized in a controlled manner, and show strong hydrophilicity as determined by thermodynamic analysis of the surface tension components. The contact of various challenging protein solutions results in repellency on the poly(DMLA) brushes. Furthermore, the poly(DMLA) brushes completely prevent the adhesion and colonization of Escherichia coli . Remarkably, upon blood contact, the poly(DMLA) brushes successfully prevent the formation of a fibrin network and leukocyte adhesion on the surface. While showcasing excellent antifouling properties similar to those of N -hydroxypropyl methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer brushes as one of the best antifouling coatings, the absence of hydroxyl groups prevents activation of the complement system in blood. We envision the polymer brushes to contribute to the future of hemocompatible coatings.

Authors 7

1. Jenny Englert Aachen Chair of Biotechnology DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   DWI─Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Marc Palà

   Universitat Rovira i Virgili

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory of Sustainable Polymers, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, University Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

3. Lena Witzdam Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology · Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI─Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer de Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Farahnaz Rayatdoost Aachen Department of Anesthesiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anesthesiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Oliver Grottke Aachen Department of Anesthesiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anesthesiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany

6. Gerard Lligadas

   Universitat Rovira i Virgili

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory of Sustainable Polymers, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, University Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

7. César Rodriguez‐Emmenegger corresponding Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats · Instituto de Salud Carlos III · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine · Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology · Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

   Affiliation as printed

   Biomedical Research Networking, Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, The Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain

   DWI─Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

   Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer de Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain