(511e) Synthetic Challenges for Zwitterionic-Based Biomaterials

An important challenge in many applications, ranging from biomedical devices to drug delivery carriers, is the prevention of nonspecific biomolecular and microorganism attachment on surfaces. Over the last few years, we have demonstrated that zwitterionic and mixed charge materials and surfaces are highly resistant to nonspecific protein adsorption, even from complex media such as undiluted blood plasma and serum. In addition to their excellent nonfouling properties, zwitterionic carboxybetaine-based materials have functional groups for direct protein immobilization while the cationic precursors of zwitterionic materials have self-sterilizing capabilities. Due to the uniqueness of zwitterionic materials such as superhydrophilic and anti-polyeletrolyte properties, their synthesis poses unique challenges. In this work, challenges for the synthesis of zwitterionic materials will be discussed for a number of applications in the forms of surface coatings, hydrogels and nanoparticles.  At present, zwitterionic materials have been applied to many applications, including implantable medical devices, early cancer diagnostics, drug/gene delivery, antimicrobial coatings, and marine coatings.