A series of hyaluronic acid (HA) - poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (P((MEO)2MA)) conjugates were synthesized with different grafting densities (GD) and P((MEO)2MA) side chain length values, in order to find the ideal parameters for an antifouling coating material and to elucidate the mechanism of coating formation. In quartz crystal micrometry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) experiments, it was found that 20% GD completely prevents protein (bovine serum albumin) adsorption. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the conjugate for GD 20% was increased from the 25 °C measured for other samples to 31 °C for different side chain lengths. This temperature increase was not accompanied by an increase in hydrodynamic diameter below LCST, but decreased the onset time of deposition based on the QCM experiments. Therefore, it is hypothesized that GD 20% is the “sweet spot” for the formation of two-dimensional supramolecular structures that would expose the hydrophilic HA to the solvent and would be held together by hydrophobic interactions between the P((MEO)2MA) chains inside. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) shows a pre-transition before LCST, at 27 °C, which is confirmed by QCM, viscosity measurements, spectroscopy, and is hypothesized to be the formation of micelles, that, upon falling apart, facilitate the formation of a smooth layer on the surface.

Reducing protein adsorption with polymer-grafted hyaluronic acid coatings: Optimization of material properties and a study on coating mechanism

249th National Meeting (2015)

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