Abstract
The purpose of this study is obtaining both biocompatibility and lubricity to biomaterial surfaces. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of a graft polymerization of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) onto polypropylene (PP) surface. The MPC graft nanolayer was prepared using a photo-induced graft polymerization. The poly(MPC)-grafted (PMPC-g-PP) surface was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and static and dynamic water contact angle measurements. As a result, the PMPC grafting clearly increased hydrophilicity and surface mobility. Friction coefficient was measured in air and in water. The friction coefficient of the PMPC surface was 0.019 in water, which was 1/10 compared with air condition. This value is similar to that of the human joints. After the friction test in water, the surface was observed with scanning electron spectroscopy. No flaw was observed on the PMPC surface. It was considered that the PMPC surface showed the behavior of hydrodynamic lubrication in water. Friction test was also performed under biological conditions; in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), PBS containing a bovine serum albumin, and cell culture medium containing fetal bovine serum. The results indicated that the PMPC surface kept highly lubricity under biological conditions.
