Applications Phosphorylcholine

Iwsaki Y, Ishihara K (2005) Phosphorylcholine-containing polymers for biomedical applications. Ann Bioanal Chem 381 534-546... 

Chapter 5 by Ishihara and Fukazawa focuses on polymers obtained from 2-methacryloylo>yethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) monomer. Indeed, the molecular design of MPC polymers with significant functions for biomedical and medical applications is summarized in detail. It is especially shown that some MPC polymers can provide artificial cell membrane-like structures at the surface as excellent interfaces between artificial systems and biological systems. In the clinical medicine field, MPC polymers have been used for surface modification of medical devices, including long-term implantable artificial organs to improve biocompatibilily. Thus some MPC polymers have been provided commercially for these applications. 

Ishihara K, Fukazawa K. 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer. In Monge S, David G, editors. Phosphorus-based polymers from synthesis to applications. (Cambridge, UK) RSC Publishing 2014. pp. 68-96. [Chapter 5]. 

GC analysis of 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-phosphorylcholine (platelet-activating factor) is a rather specialised application, and for convenience it is discussed in Chapter 10. 

Armes et al. [58] synthesized, via ATRP, biocompatible, thermoresponsive ABA triblock copolymers in which the onter A blocks are comprised of PNIPAm and the central B block is poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine). This novel system is soluble in dilnte aqueous solution but forms free-standing physical gels at 37 °C due to hydro-phobic associations of the PNIPAm segments. The gelation process is reversible and shows potential applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. 

Cell adhesion. For most applications the adhesion of cells is of fnndamental interest being the initial event of cell attachment. A simple method to quantify adherent cells is to incnbate cells over a snrface for a period of time snbsequently followed by the detachment of loosely adherent cells by gently washing the surface. Remaining cells can be labeled by flnorescent dyes and quantihed using flnorescent measnrements. Cell adhesion assays are also freqnently used to assess monocyte or platelet adhesion on polymeric snrfaces [215, 216]. In this context Hezi-Yamit et al. [217] did show that polymer hydrophilicity should be considered as a parameter to assess the biocompatibility of polymer surfaces. They showed that hydrophobic polymers such as PBMA or SIBS promote the adhesion of inflammatory activated monocytes while more hydrophilic polymers (e.g. PC (Phosphorylcholine) polymer) lead to less pro-inflammatory responses. 

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