Methacryloyl-GlcNAc Derivatives Copolymerized with Dimethacrylamide as a Novel Antibacterial and Biocompatible Coating

Improving medical implants with functional polymer coatings is an effective way to further improve the level of medical care. Antibacterial and biofilm-preventing properties are particularly desirable in the area of wound healing, since there is a generally high risk of infection, often with a chronic course in the case of biofilm formation. To prevent this we here report a polymeric design of polymer-bound N-acetyl-glucosamine-oligoethylene glycol residues that mimic a cationic, antibacterial, and biocompatible chitosan surface. The combination of easy to use, crosslinkable, thin, potentially 3D-printable polymethacrylate layering with antibacterial and biocompatible functional components will be particularly advantageous in the medical field to support a wide range of implants as well as wound dressings. Different polymers containing a N-acetylglucosamine-methacryloyl residue with oligoethylene glycol linkers and a methacryloyl benzophenone crosslinker were synthesized by free radical polymerization. The functional monomers and corresponding polymers were characterized by 1H, 13C NMR, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The polymers showed no cytotoxic or antiadhesive effects on fibroblasts as demonstrated by extract and direct contact cell culture methods. Biofilm formation was reduced by up to 70% and antibacterial growth by 1.2 log, particularly for the 5% GlcNAc-4EG polymer, as observed for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as clinically relevant Gram-negative and Gram-positive model pathogens.

Simple furan-based polymers featuring self-healing function enable efficient eco-friendly organic solar cells with high stability

Herein, two simple furan-based polymers PFO3 and PFO4 grafting oligoethylene glycol (OEG) side chains are developed. PFO3 and PFO4 feature high hole mobility, large dielectric constant and good solubility. Compared...

Side chain engineering control of mixed conduction in oligoethylene glycol-substituted polythiophenes

This work reveals the structure and sequence effects on ion and electron conductivity. Increased oxygen content leads to increased ionic and reduced electronic conductivity, and increased backbone distance increases both conductivities.

Stabilizing Self-assembled Nano-objects Using Light Tetrazole Chemistry

Herein, we present a new strategy for the stabilization of in-situ self-assembled nano-objects using light tetrazole ligation chemistry. Triblock copolymers consisting of poly(oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) as first...