Surface Modification by Polyzwitterions of the Sulfabetaine-Type, and Their Resistance to Biofouling

Synthesis of novel interpenetrated network for ocular co-administration of timolol maleate and dorzolamide hydrochloride drugs

In the present work, novel interpenetrated networks (IPNs) of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide) (SBMA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared for the ocular co-administration of timolol maleate (TIM) and dorzolamide hydrochloride (DORZ), two drugs widely used for the treatment of glaucoma. The successful polymerization of SBMA, in the presence of PVA, led to the formation of semi-interpenetrated pSBMA-PVA networks (IPNs), in the form of sponges, exhibiting intrinsic antimicrobial properties attributed to SBMA. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to confirm the successful synthesis of the IPNs. Further assessments, including contact angle and water sorption measurements, highlighted their significant hydrophilicity, a feature that makes them suitable for ocular applications. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicated that PVA serves as a plasticizer, while an assessment of the water sorption capacity of these materials suggested that although the incorporation of PVA results in slightly less hydrophilic materials, the prepared sponges still remain sufficiently hydrophilic for ocular use. Following their characterization, the optimal pSBMA-PVA IPN was used to encapsulate TIM and DORZ. Irritation tests, performed using the HET-CAM method, confirmed that the drug-loaded sponges were safe and potentially well-tolerated for ophthalmic use. Finally, the co-release study for the two drugs revealed a sustained release pattern in both cases, while drug release from the sponges was primarily controlled by diffusion.

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. Cell adhesion is focused on, which is the basic requirement for cell viability, proliferation, and growth. With the here presented polyzwitterion panel, three different types of cell-surface interactions are observed: adhesion, slight attachment, and cell repellency. Using immunofluorescence methods, it is found that human keratinocytes (HaCaT) form focal adhesions on the cell-adhesive polyzwitterions, but not on the sample that has only slight cell attachment. Gene expression analysis indicates that HaCaT cells cultivated in the presence of a non-adhesive polyzwitterion have up-regulated inflammatory and apoptosis-related cell signaling pathways, while the gene expression of HaCaT cells grown on a cell-adhesive polyzwitterion does not differ from the gene expression of the growth control, and thus can be defined as fully cell-compatible.

Synthesis of Water-Dispersed Sulfobetaine Methacrylate-Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Graphene Composite by Free Radical Polymerization

Research on the synthesis of water-soluble polymers has accelerated in recent years, as they are employed in many bio-applications. Herein, the synthesis of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (PSB) by free radical polymerization in a sonication bath is described. PSB and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were simultaneously stabilized on the graphene surface. Graphene surfaces with PSB (GPSB) and graphene surfaces with PSB and IONPs (GPSBI) were prepared. Since PSB is a water-soluble polymer, the hydrophobic nature of graphene surfaces converts to hydrophilic nature. Subsequently, the prepared graphene composites, GPSB and GPSBI, were well-dispersed in water. The preparation of GPSB and GPSBI was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The impacts of PSB and IONPs on the graphene surfaces were studied systematically.

Modeling Polyzwitterion-Based Drug Delivery Platforms: A Perspective of the Current State-of-the-Art and Beyond

Drug delivery platforms are anticipated to have biocompatible and bioinert surfaces. PEGylation of drug carriers is the most approved method since it improves water solubility and colloid stability and decreases the drug vehicles’ interactions with blood components. Although this approach extends their biocompatibility, biorecognition mechanisms prevent them from biodistribution and thus efficient drug transfer. Recent studies have shown (poly)zwitterions to be alternatives for PEG with superior biocompatibility. (Poly)zwitterions are super hydrophilic, mainly stimuli-responsive, easy to functionalize and they display an extremely low protein adsorption and long biodistribution time. These unique characteristics make them already promising candidates as drug delivery carriers. Furthermore, since they have highly dense charged groups with opposite signs, (poly)zwitterions are intensely hydrated under physiological conditions. This exceptional hydration potential makes them ideal for the design of therapeutic vehicles with antifouling capability, i.e., preventing undesired sorption of biologics from the human body in the drug delivery vehicle. Therefore, (poly)zwitterionic materials have been broadly applied in stimuli-responsive “intelligent” drug delivery systems as well as tumor-targeting carriers because of their excellent biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, insignificant immunogenicity, high stability, and long circulation time. To tailor (poly)zwitterionic drug vehicles, an interpretation of the structural and stimuli-responsive behavior of this type of polymer is essential. To this end, a direct study of molecular-level interactions, orientations, configurations, and physicochemical properties of (poly)zwitterions is required, which can be achieved via molecular modeling, which has become an influential tool for discovering new materials and understanding diverse material phenomena. As the essential bridge between science and engineering, molecular simulations enable the fundamental understanding of the encapsulation and release behavior of intelligent drug-loaded (poly)zwitterion nanoparticles and can help us to systematically design their next generations. When combined with experiments, modeling can make quantitative predictions. This perspective article aims to illustrate key recent developments in (poly)zwitterion-based drug delivery systems. We summarize how to use predictive multiscale molecular modeling techniques to successfully boost the development of intelligent multifunctional (poly)zwitterions-based systems.

Cell-membrane-inspired polymers for constructing biointerfaces with efficient molecular recognition

Fabrication of devices that accurately recognize, detect, and separate target molecules from mixtures is a crucial aspect of biotechnology for applications in medical, pharmaceutical, and food sciences. This technology has also been recently applied in solving environmental and energy-related problems. In molecular recognition, biomolecules are typically complexed with a substrate, and specific molecules from a mixture are recognized, captured, and reacted. To increase sensitivity and efficiency, the activity of the biomolecules used for capture should be maintained, and non-specific reactions on the surface should be prevented. This review summarizes polymeric materials that are used for constructing biointerfaces. Precise molecular recognition occurring at the surface of cell membranes is fundamental to sustaining life; therefore, materials that mimic the structure and properties of this particular surface are emphasized in this article. The requirements for biointerfaces to eliminate nonspecific interactions of biomolecules are described. In particular, the major issue of protein adsorption on biointerfaces is discussed by focusing on the structure of water near the interface from a thermodynamic viewpoint; moreover, the structure of polymer molecules that control the water structure is considered. Methodologies enabling stable formation of these interfaces on material surfaces are also presented.

Forces between mica and end-grafted statistical copolymers of sulfobetaine and oligoethylene glycol in aqueous electrolyte solutions

This study quantified the interfacial forces associated with end-grafted, statistical (AB) co-polymers of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and oligoethylene glycol methacrylate (OEGMA) (poly(SBMA-co-OEGMA)). Surface force apparatus measurements compared forces between mica and end-grafted copolymers containing 0, 40, or 80 mol% SBMA. Studies compared forces measured at low grafting density (weakly overlapping chains) and at high density (brushes). At high density, the range of repulsive forces did not change significantly with increasing SBMA content. By contrast, at low density, both the range and the amplitude of the repulsion increased with the percentage of SBMA in the chains. The ionic strength dependence of the film thickness and repulsive forces increased similarly with SBMA content, reflecting the increasing influence of charged monomers and their interactions with ions in solution. The forces could be described by models of simple polymers in good solvent. However, the forces and fitted model parameters change continuously with the SBMA content. The latter behavior suggests that ethyene glycol and sulfobetaine behave as non-interacting, miscible monomers that contribute independently to the interfacial forces. The results suggest that molecular scale properties of statistical poly (SBMA-co-OEGMA) films can be readily tuned by simple variation of the monomer ratios.

Programmable Zwitterionic Droplets as Biomolecular Sorters and Model of Membraneless Organelles

Increasing evidence indicates that cells can regulate biochemical functions in time and space by generating membraneless compartments with well-defined mesoscopic properties. One important mechanism underlying this control is simple coacervation driven by associative disordered proteins that encode multivalent interactions. Inspired by these observations, programmable droplets based on simple coacervation of responsive synthetic polymers that mimic the "stickers-and-spacers" architecture of biological disordered proteins are developed. Zwitterionic polymers that undergo an enthalpy-driven liquid-liquid phase separation process and form liquid droplets that remarkably exclude most molecules are developed. Starting from this reference material, different functional groups in the zwitterionic polymer are progressively added to encode an increasing number of different intermolecular interactions. This strategy allowed the multiple emerging properties of the droplets to be controlled independently, such as stimulus-responsiveness, polarity, selective uptake of client molecules, fusion times, and miscibility. By exploiting this high programmability, a model of cellular compartmentalization is reproduced and droplets capable of confining different molecules in space without physical barriers are generated. Moreover, these biomolecular sorters are demonstrated to be able to localize, separate, and enable the detection of target molecules even within complex mixtures, opening attractive applications in bioseparation, and diagnostics.

Low Fouling Polysulfobetaines with Variable Hydrophobic Content

Amphiphilic polymer coatings combining hydrophilic elements, in particular zwitterionic groups, and hydrophobic elements comprise a promising strategy to decrease biofouling. However, the influence of the content of the hydrophobic component in zwitterionic coatings on the interfacial molecular reorganization dynamics and the anti-fouling performance is not well understood. Therefore, coatings of amphiphilic copolymers of sulfobetaine methacrylate 3-[N-2'-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-N,N-dimethyl]-ammonio propane-1-sulfonate (SPE) are prepared which contain increasing amounts of hydrophobic n-butyl methacrylate (BMA). Their fouling resistance is compared to that of their homopolymers PSPE and PBMA. The photo-crosslinked coatings form hydrogel films with a hydrophilic surface. Fouling by the proteins fibrinogen and lysozyme as well as by the diatom Navicula perminuta and the green algae Ulva linza is assessed in laboratory assays. While biofouling is strongly reduced by all zwitterionic coatings, the best fouling resistance is obtained for the amphiphilic copolymers. Also in preliminary field tests, the anti-fouling performance of the amphiphilic copolymer films is superior to that of both homopolymers. When the coatings are exposed to a marine environment, the reduced susceptibility to silt incorporation, in particular compared to the most hydrophilic polyzwitterion PSPE, likely contributes to the improved fouling resistance.

Sulfobetaine Methacrylate Polymers of Unconventional Polyzwitterion Architecture and Their Antifouling Properties

Combining high hydrophilicity with charge neutrality, polyzwitterions are intensely explored for their high biocompatibility and low-fouling properties. Recent reports indicated that in addition to charge neutrality, the zwitterion's segmental dipole orientation is an important factor for interacting with the environment. Accordingly, a series of polysulfobetaines with a novel architecture was designed, in which the cationic and anionic groups of the zwitterionic moiety are placed at equal distances from the backbone. They were investigated by in vitro biofouling assays, covering proteins of different charges and model marine organisms. All polyzwitterion coatings reduced the fouling effectively compared to model polymer surfaces of poly(butyl methacrylate), with a nearly equally good performance as the reference polybetaine poly(3-(N-(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonio)propanesulfonate). The specific fouling resistance depended on the detailed chemical structure of the polyzwitterions. Still, while clearly affecting the performance, the precise dipole orientation of the sulfobetaine group in the polyzwitterions seems overall to be only of secondary importance for their antifouling behavior.

Effect of Dipole Orientation in Mixed, Charge-Equilibrated Self-assembled Monolayers on Protein Adsorption and Marine Biofouling

While zwitterionic interfaces are known for their excellent low-fouling properties, the underlying molecular principles are still under debate. In particular, the role of the zwitterion orientation at the interface has been discussed recently. For elucidation of the effect of this parameter, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold were prepared from stoichiometric mixtures of oppositely charged alkyl thiols bearing either a quaternary ammonium or a carboxylate moiety. The alkyl chain length of the cationic component (11-mercaptoundecyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium, which controls the distance of the positively charged end group from the substrate's surface, was kept constant. In contrast, the anionic component and, correspondingly, the distance of the negatively charged carboxylate groups from the surface was varied by changing the alkyl chain length in the thiol molecules from 7 (8-mercaptooctanoic acid) to 11 (12-mercaptododecanoic acid) to 15 (16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid). In this way, the charge neutrality of the coating was maintained, but the charged groups exposed at the interface to water were varied, and thus, the orientation of the dipoles in the SAMs was altered. In model biofouling studies, protein adsorption, diatom accumulation, and the settlement of zoospores were all affected by the altered charge distribution. This demonstrates the importance of the dipole orientation in mixed-charged SAMs for their inertness to nonspecific protein adsorption and the accumulation of marine organisms. Overall, biofouling was lowest when both the anionic and the cationic groups were placed at the same distance from the substrate's surface.

PLL-Poly(HPMA) Bottlebrush-Based Antifouling Coatings: Three Grafting Routes

In this work, we compare three routes to prepare antifouling coatings that consist of poly(l-lysine)-poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) bottlebrushes. The poly(l-lysine) (PLL) backbone is self-assembled onto the surface by charged-based interactions between the lysine groups and the negatively charged silicon oxide surface, whereas the poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) [poly(HPMA)] side chains, grown by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization, provide antifouling properties to the surface. First, the PLL-poly(HPMA) coatings are synthesized in a bottom-up fashion through a grafting-from approach. In this route, the PLL is self-assembled onto a surface, after which a polymerization agent is immobilized, and finally HPMA is polymerized from the surface. In the second explored route, the PLL is modified in solution by a RAFT agent to create a macroinitiator. After self-assembly of this macroinitiator onto the surface, poly(HPMA) is polymerized from the surface by RAFT. In the third and last route, the whole PLL-poly(HPMA) bottlebrush is initially synthesized in solution. To this end, HPMA is polymerized from the macroinitiator in solution and the PLL-poly(HPMA) bottlebrush is then self-assembled onto the surface in just one step (grafting-to approach). Additionally, in this third route, we also design and synthesize a bottlebrush polymer with a PLL backbone and poly(HPMA) side chains, with the latter containing 5% carboxybetaine (CB) monomers that eventually allow for additional (bio)functionalization in solution or after surface immobilization. These three routes are evaluated in terms of ease of synthesis, scalability, ease of characterization, and a preliminary investigation of their antifouling performance. All three coating procedures result in coatings that show antifouling properties in single-protein antifouling tests. This method thus presents a new, simple, versatile, and highly scalable approach for the manufacturing of PLL-based bottlebrush coatings that can be synthesized partly or completely on the surface or in solution, depending on the desired production process and/or application.

Amphiphilic Dicyclopentenyl/Carboxybetaine-Containing Copolymers for Marine Fouling-Release Applications

Zwitterionic materials received great attention in recent studies due to their high antifouling potential, though their application in practical coatings is still challenging. Amphiphilic polymers have been proven to be an effective method to combat fouling in the marine environment. This study reports the incorporation of small amounts of zwitterionic carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA) into hydrophobic ethylene glycol dicyclopentenyl ether acrylate (DCPEA). A new set of copolymers with varying amphiphilicities was synthesized and coated on chemically modified glass substrates. The antifouling capabilities were assessed against the diatom Navicula perminuta and multiple species in the field. Unsurprisingly, high diatom densities were observed on the hydrophobic control coatings. The integration of small zwitterionic contents of only ∼5 wt % was already sufficient to rapidly form a hydrophilic interface that led to a strong reduction of fouling. Ultralow fouling was also observed for the pure zwitterionic coatings in laboratory experiments, but it failed when tested in the real ocean environment. We noticed that the ability to absorb large amounts of water and the diffuse nature of the interphase correlate with the adsorption of silt, which can mask the hydrophilic chemistries and facilitate the settlement of organisms. The amphiphilic coatings showed low fouling in dynamic short-term field exposures, which could be explained by the reduced tendency of the coatings for sediment adsorption.

Effects of crosslink density in zwitterionic hydrogel coatings on their antifouling performance and susceptibility to silt uptake

Hydrogel coatings effectively reduce the attachment of proteins and organisms in laboratory assays, in particular when made from zwitterionic monomers. In field experiments with multiple species and non-living material, such coatings suffer from adsorption of particulate matter. In this study, the zwitterionic monomer 3-[N-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonio] propanesulfonate (SPE) was copolymerized with increasing amounts of the photo-crosslinker benzophenon-4-yloxyethyl methacrylate (BPEMA) to systematically alter the density of crosslinks between the polymer chains. The effect of increasing crosslink density on the antifouling (AF) performance of the coatings was investigated in laboratory assays and fields tests. In both cases, the AF performance was improved by increasing the crosslinker content. The coatings reduced protein, diatom, and barnacle accumulation, and showed better resistance to biomass accumulation. The findings underline that the marine AF performance of hydrogel coatings does not only depend on the specific chemical structure of the polymers, but also on their physico-chemical properties such as rigidity and swelling.