Hemocompatibility and biofunctionality of two poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethyleneglycol) copolymers

To mask the antigenic sites of cells for cell therapies, especially for blood transfusion, we investigated the hemocompatibility of two poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethyleneglycol) compared with that of the homopolymer without PEG. Our strategy relies on the potential ability of these copolymers to self-assemble at the erythrocyte surface. The cationic sequence of the copolymer should be able to interact with the glycocalyx by ionic interaction. The other sequence, based on a polyethyleneglycol moiety, should prevent both nonspecific interactions and specific recognition of the biological surface. The hemocompatibility of these copolymers was assessed by analyzing alterations in human erythrocyte membrane viscoelasticity, morphology, granularity, and aggregation. Their properties to mask ABO system and three erythrocyte glycophorin sites were investigated. No alterations in the erythrocyte morphology were observed by confocal microscopy. On the other hand, a partial masking of different specific glycophorin sites leads to future optimization of the macromolecular structures of these functionalized copolymers.