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Photoinduced self-initiated graft polymerization of methacrylate monomers on poly(ether ether ketone) substrates and surface parameters for controlling cell adhesion

Polymer Journal volume 52, pages 731–741 (2020)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 06 April 2020

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Abstract

One of the super engineering plastics, poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), was functionalized by photoinduced self-initiated graft polymerization of various methacrylate monomers. Anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, nonionic hydrophilic, and nonionic hydrophobic polymer layers were formed onto PEEK substrates. Physical and chemical surface characterizations of the resultant polymer-grafted PEEK substrates were performed through measurements of their surface free energies and ζ potentials. The values of these parameters varied in the ranges of 39–71 mJ/m2 and −69 to 46 mV, respectively. These parameters reflected the chemical structures of the grafted polymers. To understand the effects of these surface parameters on cell adhesion behavior at the substrate surface, the amount of fibronectin adsorbed on the plasma-contacting surface and the density of fibroblast cells adhered to the surface were determined. The adherent cell density showed a good linear correlation with the amount of fibronectin adsorbed on the plasma-contacting surface. The polymer surface with zero ζ potential showed a lower adsorbed fibronectin density. Both anionic and cationic polymer layers had increased cell adhesion compared with that on the original PEEK substrate, whereas the zwitterionic polymer layers significantly prevented cell adhesion. In conclusion, grafting zwitterionic polymers onto a PEEK substrate is anticipated to be useful in the development of a biomedical PEEK substrate.

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  • 06 April 2020

    An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by the S-innovation Research Program for the “Development of the biofunctional materials for realization of innovative medicine”, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Kazuhiko Ishihara, Kyoko Fukazawa & Yuuki Inoue

  2. Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Kazuhiko Ishihara & Satoshi Yanokuchi

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  1. Kazuhiko Ishihara
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Correspondence to Kazuhiko Ishihara.

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Ishihara, K., Yanokuchi, S., Fukazawa, K. et al. Photoinduced self-initiated graft polymerization of methacrylate monomers on poly(ether ether ketone) substrates and surface parameters for controlling cell adhesion. Polym J 52, 731–741 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-020-0318-9

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