Functional Choline Phosphate Polymers

Abstract

Zwitterionic polymers have been widely implemented in surface modification and as biomaterials that exhibit exceptional hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and antifouling properties. However, a wider breadth of applications for polymer zwitterions is hindered by their inherent lack of functionality, requiring the integration of chain-end functionality or incorporation of functional comonomers along the polymer chain. Here we demonstrate the facile placement of unsaturated groups directly into zwitterionic methacrylate monomers, specifically choline phosphate structures, and show the utility of these monomers in controlled free radical polymerization. These versatile functional zwitterions are converted easily to polymer prodrugs, hydrogels, and other derivatives that establish the versatility of this novel materials platform.