Surface modification of cellulose membranes with zwitterionic polymers for resistance to protein adsorption and platelet adhesion

Three zwitterionic polymers, including poly(N,N-dimethyl-N-(p-vinylbenyl)-N-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium) (PDMVSA), poly(2-(methacryloyloxyethyl) ethyl-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)-ammonium) (PDMMSA), and poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) were grafted from cellulose membranes (CMs) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The CMs were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), static water contact angle (WCA) measurement, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results showed that zwitterionic polymers were successfully grafted from CM surfaces. The zwitterionic polymer modified surfaces are more hydrophilic than the original CM surface. Total protein adsorption and platelet adhesion on these surfaces were measured in vitro. It was found that all the zwitterionic surfaces have improved resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and possess excellent resistance to platelet adhesion. Moreover, the PDMVSA and the PDMMSA modified surfaces were as effective as the PMPC modified surface at preventing protein adsorption and platelet adhesion.