Modified polyglycidol based nanolayers of switchable philicity and their interactions with skin cells

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 106 - 117
• Main Authors: Utrata-Wesołek, Alicja, Oleszko, Natalia, Trzebicka, Barbara, Anioł, Jacek, Zagdańska, Maria, Lesiak, Marta, Sieroń, Aleksander, Dworak, Andrzej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyglycidol; Properties and characterization; Skin cells adhesion; Surface properties; Temperature-responsive surfaces; “grafting to” surface; Polyglycidol; Skin cells adhesion; Temperature-responsive surfaces; “grafting to” surface; Biological properties; Surface reaction; Graft copolymer; Molecular structure; Temperature effect; grafting to surface; Maleic derivative copolymer; Hydrophobicity; Wettability; Cyclic ether copolymer; Cell adhesion; Surface properties; Keratinocyte; Graft polymers; Ultrathin films; Experimental study; Functional polymer; Esterification; Chemical coupling; Alcohol copolymer; Chemical modification; Imidation; Preparation; Ethylene copolymer; Maleic anhydride copolymer; Fibroblast; Aliphatic copolymer
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2012.09.015

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► Thermosensitive poly(glycidol-co-ethyl glicydyl carbamate) film immobilized on glass and silica substrate. ► Philicity of film switchable by temperature. ► Biocompatibility of poly(glycidol-co-ethyl glicydyl carbamate) film checked. ► Fibroblasts grow on immobilized thermosensitive layer.
Temperature-responsive polymer surfaces based on modified high molar mass polyglycidol were obtained via the “grafting onto” technique. The solid support (glass or silica) was modified to introduce reactive anhydride groups. The covalent bonding of the temperature-responsive poly(glycidol-co-ethyl glycidyl carbamate) to the base support was obtained by the chemical reaction between reactive functional groups on the support and on the polymer. The surface properties, such as the composition, morphology, thickness and wettability, and their changes with the temperature were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis, Atomic Force Microscopy, ellipsometry and contact angle measurements, respectively. The attachment of the hydrophobically modified polyglycidol derivatives produced a polymer layer with a thickness of 20–60nm and a changeable philicity due to the temperature alterations. This unique behavior was applied to the investigation of the interaction of polymer nanolayers with skin cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes). The skin cells adhesion to the poly(glycidol-co-ethyl glycidyl carbamate) surface was possible at temperatures above the phase separation temperature, when the polymer layer was hydrophobic.