Sulfobetaine based zwitterionic polymers are a relatively new set of biocompatible polymers that exhibit nonspecific protein adsorption and antifouling properties. Their importance as biocompatible synthetic materials has been recognized by many researchers. Biocompatibility is generally defined by the absence of a foreign body response when a biomaterial is implanted into the body. The foreign body response is a series of cellular processes that occurs, for example, when a tissue is injured because of the implantation of a medical device. Improved biocompatibility limits adverse effects for implanted sensors and drug delivery devices. In this study, copolymers of acrylic acid (AA) and sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) were synthesized with varying feed ratios from 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 of SBMA:AA respectively. The copolymers were then purified using a novel mixed solvent precipitation method. Dried polymers were characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Proton NMR spectroscopy was used to determine that the ratio between SBMA and AA in the final products is significantly different from the initial feed ratios, and this data are compared to other polymer preparation schemes that have been previously reported in the literature. Our analysis shows that these copolymers incorporate more SBMA than AA as compared to their given feed ratios. Future work for these materials will include the crosslinking of these water soluble copolymers into films so that their specific protein absorption may be studied <i>in vitro</i>.

Synthesis and characterization of sulfobetaine containing copolymers

251st National Meeting (2016)

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