Cytocompatibility of new-type sulfonated polymer surfaces

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are chosen to test the cytocompatibility of the modified polymer surfaces and study the cell-material surface interaction with an attempt to develop new-type biofunctional polymer surfaces. A new-type sulphonated polymer surface has been prepared by a solution technique and the sulfonated polymer surface obtained has shown a good antithrombogenic property by in vitro clotting time evaluation and platelet adhesion experiments. Sulfonated SPEO is obtained by the reaction of stearic polyethylene oxide (SPEO) and 1,3-propane sulfone. Polystyrene (PS) is used as model polymer. The sulfonated polymer surfaces (SS surfaces) are obtained by the sulfonated SPEO (SSPEO) THF/water solution treatment. The modified PS surfaces are characterized by SEM and ESCA. The EC adhesion and proliferation experiments are done on the modified surfaces by red cell counting, and the morphology of the adhered ECs is observed by SEM. The results show that SS surfaces are of good cytocompatibility. The reason is attributed to the combined influence of functional groups SO₃^- and flexible PEO chains