Adhesion of Preosteoblasts and Fibroblasts onto Poly(pentafluorostyrene)-Based Glycopolymeric Films and their Biocompatibility

An efficient and metal-catalyst free method of glycopolymer synthesis via thiol/para-fluorine click'' reaction was used to graft acetylated 1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose and 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranose onto a homopolymer of pentafluorostyrene (PFS) as well as onto a block copolymer of styrene and PFS. Subsequent deprotection of the carbohydrate moieties yielded well-defined, sugar-modified polymers (PDI < 1.2). The prepared polymers were not cytotoxic against 3T3 fibroblasts and MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. Furthermore, the water-insoluble copolymers were drop-cast and examined as synthetic biocompatible coatings on poly(propylene) substrates for culturing the investigated cell types. Both fibro- and preosteoblasts showed stable adhesion and proliferation on the glycopolymer-coated surfaces.