title: Synthesis and characterisation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) polyelectrolyte complexes.
abstract: Copolymerisation of charged and neutral monomers is a well-known methodology to introduce charged moieties in a polymeric chain to obtain polyelectrolytes. New polyelectrolyte complexes have been synthesised by radical copolymerisation of neutral methacrylic monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with cationic 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and anionic 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulphonic acid monomers in 10:1:1 and 10:1:2 stechiometric ratio. Chemical structure of the synthesised terpolymers was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the presence of a cationic charge excess on the 10:1:2 terpolymer surface with respect to 10:1:1 terpolymer. Swelling studies for 10:1:2 terpolymers showed a high water content in the swollen state and a "smart behaviour" upon changes in external stimuli such as pH, while, 10:1:1 terpolymer presented the behaviour of a neutral polymer. Mechanical and differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed that terpolymer networks were stabilised by ionic co-operative interactions. Infact, the inclusion of oppositely ionic charges in the polymeric network of p(HEMA) represent a way to achieve higher elastic modulus as they stabilise the terpolymer networks. Cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility studies demonstrated that all materials were not toxic, moreover, the presence of a cationic charge excess on 10:1:2 terpolymer surface was able to promote fibroblast adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesological, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy. francesco.rosso@unina2.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000476:Alkanesulfonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004548:Elasticity; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C120889:2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate; D000178:Acrylamides; D000476:Alkanesulfonates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004573:Electrolytes; D008689:Methacrylates; D014867:Water; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; C056288:2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate