Self-assembly and steric stabilization at heterogeneous, biological surfaces using adsorbing block copolymers
Abstract
We present the synthesis, characterization and initial structure-function analysis of a new class of bioactive agent that allows the application of techniques from colloid science to biological surfaces. Stable colloidal suspensions can be generated by immobilizing a dense brush of soluble polymer at the colloidal surface, creating a zone protected against the adhesion of approaching particles, a phenomenon termed polymeric steric stabilization. This is often accomplished for aqueous colloidal dispersions using adsorbing block copolymers. We demonstrate that water-soluble block copolymers can be designed to adsorb onto heterogeneous biological surfaces and block cell-cell and cell-surface adhesion, using polymer compositions and architectures that are quite different from surfactants used for stabilizing nonbiological colloidal dispersions. Comb copolymers were synthesized having polycationic backbones (poly-L-lysine, PLL), serving as the anchor for binding to the net negatively charged biological surfaces, grafted with water-soluble polynonionic chains (polyethylene glycol, PEG), to block biological recognition, producing PLL-graft-PEG copolymers. Specific copolymers were found to sterically stabilize red blood cells from lect...Continue Reading
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