POLYMER MICROSPHERES PREPARED WITH A MACROINITIATOR .2. SUGAR BALLS FROM 2-METHACRYLOYLOXYETHYL-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE

Macroinitiator was prepared by the coupling of the disuccinimidyl este r of 4,4'-azobis(cyanovaleric acid) with poly(methacryloyloxyethyl-D-g lucopyranoside) (PMEGlc) with an amino group at its end. Styrene and d ivinylbenzene were copolymerized using the initiator in the presence o f sodium dodecylsulfate. The polymer microspheres obtained have PMEGlc chains on their surfaces (''sugar balls''). Aggregation phenomena wer e observed when a solution of lectin (Con-A) was added to the suspensi on, due to a specific recognition of sugar residues on the microsphere by a tetrameric lectin molecule. A suspension of sugar balls could no t be flocculated even upon addition of an aqueous 3M NaCl solution due to the thick diffuse layer composed of PMEGlc chains on their surface s. The utility of macroinitiators to prepare various polymer materials which have biomedical functions on their surfaces is suggested.