Click-chemistry for surface modification of monodisperse-macroporous particles

In this study, click chemistry was proposed as a tool for tuning the surface hydrophilicity of monodisperse-macroporous particles in micron-size range. The monodisperse-porous particles carrying hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecular brushes on their surfaces were obtained by the proposed modification. Hydrophilic poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate), poly(GMA-co-EDM) particles were hydrophobized by the covalent attachment of poly(octadecyl acrylate-co-propargyl acrylate), poly(ODA-co-PA) copolymer onto the particle surface via triazole formation by click chemistry. In the second part, Hydrophobic poly(4-chloromethylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene), poly(CMS-co-DVB) particles were hydrophilized by the covalent attachment of poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA onto their surface also via triazole formation by click chemistry. The presence of PVA and poly(ODA-co-PA) copolymer on the corresponding particles was shown by FTIR-DRS. After click-coupling reactions applied for both hydrophobic poly(CMS-co-DVB) and hydrophilic poly(GMA-co-EDM) particles, the marked changes in surface polarity were shown by contact angle measurements. Protein adsorption characteristics of plain and modified particles were investigated for both materials. In the isoelectric point of albumin, the non-specific albumin adsorption decreased from 225 to 80 mg/g by grafting PVA onto the poly(CMS-co-DVB) beads. On the other hand, the non-specific albumin adsorption onto the plain poly(GMA-co-EDM) beads increased from 50 to 400 mg/g by the covalent attachment of poly(ODA-co-PA) copolymer onto the bead-surface via click chemistry. The protein adsorption behavior was efficiently regulated by the covalent attachment of appropriate molecular brushes onto the surfaces of selected particles. The results indicated that “click chemistry” was an efficient tool for controlling the polarity of monodisperse-macroporous particles.

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► The hydrophilicity of monodisperse-macroporous particles was adjusted via click-chemistry.
► The hydrophilic/hydrophobic molecular brushes on the particles were generated.
► Protein adsorption behavior was efficiently regulated by the surface modification.