Functionalization of Polycarbonate Surfaces by Grafting PEG and Zwitterionic Polymers with a Multicomb Structure

The hemocompatibility of polycarbonateurethane (PCU) surfaces is improved by decoration with poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (poly(PEGMA)) and zwitterionic poly(3-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate) (poly(DMAPS)) blocks providing a novel multicomb structure obtained by application of surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (s-ATRP) conditions. The PCU-poly(PEGMA-g-DMAPS) surface shows high hydrophilicity with a low contact angle of 20.6 +/- 1.8 degrees, while PCU-poly(PEGMA-b-DMAPS) surface exhibitsed a contact angle of 30.5 +/- 2.6 degrees. Furthermore, PCU-poly(PEGMA-g-DMAPS) surface shows very low platelet adsorption indicating that multicomb structure modified PCUs are preferred candidate materials for blood-contacting materials.