Surface characteristics of poly(γ-alkyl α l-glutamate)s with different alkyl groups

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2011-05, Vol.120 (3), p.1679-1684
• Main Authors: Shao, Lin-Jun, Wu, Jian, Liu, Zhen-Mei, Xu, Zhi-Kang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aminoacid polymers; Applied sciences; biocompatibility; Biological and medical sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Medical sciences; Physicochemistry of polymers; platelet adhesion; polyglutamate; Polymers; protein adsorption; surface; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Synthetic biopolymers; synthetic polypeptide; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; water contact angle
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.33321

A series of poly(γ‐alkyl α L‐glutamate)s with different alkyl groups were synthesized by the ring opening polymerization of corresponding α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides. The characteristics of these polyglutamate surfaces were evaluated by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, water contact angle, water absorption, protein adsorption, and platelet adhesion measurements. Changing the length of the alkyl side chain provides a unique opportunity to study the influence of carbon number in the alkyl group on the surface properties of the polyglutamates. Water contact angle and water absorption data show that the hydrophilicity of these polyglutamate surfaces decreases with the increasing of methylene in the alkyl group. Protein adsorption on these polyglutamate surfaces increases with the enhancing of surface hydrophobicity. However, the changes in platelets adhesion could be attributed to the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the polyglutamates and the specific effect of alkyl group. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011