Polymer brush with pendent glucosylurea groups constructed on a glass substrate by RAFT polymerization

A polymer brush with pendent d-glucosylurea groups (Poly(glucosylureaethyl methacrylate), PolyGUMA) was obtained by surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization of GUMA on a glass substrate. The linear relationship between the loge ([M]o/[M]) value and the reaction conversion, and the small polydispersity in Mw/Mn value of PolyGUMA produced in liquid phase at the same time suggested that the polymerization proceeded in a living manner. The bicinchoninic acid method indicated that the PolyGUMA brush was significantly resistant against non-specific adsorption of albumin (bovine serum) and lysozyme (egg white). Furthermore, the adhesion of cells such as HepG2, and HEK293 cells was strongly suppressed by the presence of PolyGUMA brush. The glucosylurea group-carrying polymer brush prepared here might be quite useful to provide a “bio-inert (anti-biofouling)” surface in bio-medical fields.

Graphical abstractHepG2 cells adhered to the hollow space where the PolyGUMA brush had been ablated by ion-beam irradiation.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Surface-initiated polymerization of glucosylurea-carrying monomer (GUMA) on a glass. ► No significant protein adsorption and cell adhesion to the PolyGUMA brush. ► Cell adhesion to a hollow space induced by ion-beam irradiation of the brush. ► Usefulness of the PolyGUMA brush as a bio-inert surface in biomedical fields.