Emulsion copolymerization of 2‐(acryloyloxy)ethylphosphoryl‐choline with vinyl monomers and protein adsorption at resultant copolymer microspheres

A series of copolymer microspheres of 2‐(acryloyloxy)ethylphosphorylcholine (APC) with comonomers (M) such as methyl (MMA), ethyl (EMA), butyl (BMA), hexyl methacrylate (HMA), and styrene (St), i. e. poly(APC‐co‐M) microspheres, were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion copolymerization. From the kinetics of the copolymerization, it was found that the initial rate of polymerization of St increases in the presence of small amounts of APC. The diameters of poly‐(APC‐co‐M) microspheres were much smaller than those of the corresponding homopolymer, poly(M). It was confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements that the APC moiety is concentrated on the surface of the particles. A series of poly(APC‐co‐M) microspheres was found to adsorb both bovine serum albumin (Alb) and human serum γ‐globulin (Glo) less that the corresponding poly(M) microspheres as a control.