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PHEMA Hydrogels Modified through the Grafting of Phosphate Groups by ATRP Support the Attachment and Growth of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Queensland Eye Institute, 41 Annerley Road, South Brisbane Queensland 4101, Australia, z.zainuddin{at}qei.org.au

Zeke Barnard

Queensland Eye Institute, 41 Annerley Road, South Brisbane Queensland 4101, Australia

Imelda Keen

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

David J.T. Hill

Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia

Traian V. Chirila

Queensland Eye Institute, 41 Annerley Road, South Brisbane Queensland 4101, Australia, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia

Damien G. Harkin

Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane Queensland 4006, Australia

Converting the surface of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel into a cell-adhesive surface has been successfully achieved through a method based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) grafting. Following activation of the surface hydroxyl groups of PHEMA by bromination, surface-initiated ATRP of mono(2-methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphate (MMEP) was conducted in a methanol—water system with Cu(I)Br as catalyst at room temperature. The conversion of PHEMA hydroxyl groups to brominated isobutyryl groups and the occurrence of grafting of PMMEP were confirmed by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Cell attachment experiments were conducted by culturing human corneal limbal epithelial cells on the PMMEP-grafted PHEMA, and on unmodified PHEMA and tissue culture plastic for comparison. The results showed that the grafted PMMEP was homogeneously distributed, and the phosphate groups appeared to significantly promote the attachment, spreading and growth of cells, at a level comparable to the tissue culture plastic.

Key Words: hydrogels biomaterials • tissue engineering • ATRP grafting • phosphate groups • corneal epithelial cells.

This version was published on September 1, 2008

Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Vol. 23, No. 2, 147-168 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0885328207086993


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