@article{MaiRakhmatullinaBleeketal.2014, author = {Mai, Tobias and Rakhmatullina, Ekaterina and Bleek, Katrin and Boye, Susanne and Yuan, Jiayin and Voelkel, Antje and Graewert, Marlies and Cheaib, Zeinab and Eick, Sigrun and G{\"u}nter, Christina and Lederer, Albena and Lussi, Adrian and Taubert, Andreas}, title = {Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) block copolymers for calcium phosphate mineralization and biofilm inhibition}, series = {Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences}, volume = {15}, journal = {Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences}, number = {11}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1525-7797}, doi = {10.1021/bm500888q}, pages = {3901 -- 3914}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) has long been used as an additive in toothpaste, partly because it reduces biofilm formation on teeth. It does not, however, reduce the formation of dental calculus or support the remineralization of dental enamel or dentine. The present article describes the synthesis of new block copolymers on the basis of PEO and poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) blocks using atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymers have very large molecular weights (over 10(6) g/mol) and are highly water-soluble. They delay the precipitation of calcium phosphate from aqueous solution but, upon precipitation, lead to relatively monodisperse hydroxyapatite (HAP) spheres. Moreover, the polymers inhibit the bacterial colonization of human enamel by Streptococcus gordonii, a pioneer bacterium in oral biofilm formation, in vitro. The formation of well-defined HAP spheres suggests that a polymer-induced liquid precursor phase could be involved in the precipitation process. Moreover, the inhibition of bacterial adhesion suggests that the polymers could be utilized in caries prevention.}, language = {en} }