Grafting and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) mono methyl ether on poly(methacrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) via direct condensation

Synthesis and characterization of copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) mono methyl ether-gpoly( methacrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) via a polymeric precursor method is reported. Grafting was accomplished based on direct condensation reaction in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as an esterification promoting agent catalyzed by dimethylamino pyridine. PEG-grafted copolymers were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques and their biocompatibility was also studied. Appearance of bands assigned to the ester functional groups in Fourier transform infrared spectra was used for structure characterization of the grafted copolymer. Grafting efficiency was assured the performance of grafting reaction. Cytotoxicity evaluation of the grafted copolymer using L929 fibroblast cell line elucidated acceptable biocompatibility profile also applicability of the copolymers for biomedical applications.