Zwitterionic Mucoadhesive Copolymer
Poly(MPC-co-AA)
Also listed as Poly(AA-co-MPC) | MPC monomer CAS 67881-98-5 · Acrylic acid monomer CAS 79-10-7
A random copolymer of MPC and acrylic acid (AA). Without MAA’s alpha-methyl group, the AA backbone is more flexible and gives a more uniform, tighter distribution of carboxyl groups along the chain — improving mucin binding and metal-ion chelation while keeping MPC’s antifouling hydration layer and a ready -COOH conjugation handle.
- Configurable MPC:AA ratio, custom Mw available
MPC CAS 67881-98-5
MPC — AA
Random copolymer, zwitterionic + anionic
Appearance: White to off-white powder
Character: Zwitterionic + pH-anionic
Reactive Group: -COOH (conjugation-ready)
Storage: -20 °C, keep dry
ISO 9001:2015
Manufactured under certified quality management
Custom MPC:AA Ratio
Charge density tunable to your spec
Batch-Level COA
Ratio and Mw confirmation per lot
Sample to Bulk
1 g R&D vials up to multi-gram supply
MPC Monomer CAS
67881-98-5
AA Monomer CAS
79-10-7
Character
Zwitterionic + anionic
Approx. pKa
~4.25
Package
1g / 10g / 100g
Why choose acrylic acid over methacrylic acid
These two are close cousins, so the choice usually comes down to one structural difference: the alpha-methyl group.
| Property | Poly(MPC-co-AA) | Poly(MPC-co-MAA) |
|---|---|---|
| Backbone | No alpha-methyl — more flexible | Alpha-methyl — more sterically hindered |
| Carboxyl distribution | More uniform, tighter spacing | Slightly more irregular |
| Approx. pKa | ~4.25 | ~4.5 – 5.0 |
| Best suited for | Mucoadhesion, ion chelation | Bioconjugation, general pH-triggered release |
| Precedented use | Ophthalmic/nasal/buccal mucoadhesive gels (Carbomer/PAA family) | Broader pH-responsive drug-delivery research |
Both carry a -COOH conjugation handle and MPC's antifouling background — the difference is in backbone flexibility and charge-group spacing, which is what drives the mucoadhesion and chelation advantage of AA.
Typical values for our standard grade. MPC:AA ratio and molecular weight are configurable — request a batch-specific COA for your exact build.
| Synonyms | Poly(AA-co-MPC) · MPC-AA copolymer · Mucoadhesive zwitterionic copolymer |
|---|---|
| MPC Monomer CAS | 67881-98-5 |
| AA Monomer CAS | 79-10-7 |
| MPC Monomer Formula | C₁₁H₂₂NO₆P, MW 295.27 g/mol |
| AA Monomer Formula | C₃H₄O₂, MW 72.06 g/mol |
| Copolymer Type | Random (statistical) copolymer |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |
| Character | Zwitterionic (MPC) + weak anionic, pH-responsive (AA) |
| Approx. pKa (carboxyl) | ~4.25 |
| MPC:AA Ratio | Configurable — specify at order |
| Reactive Group | -COOH, available for EDC/NHS conjugation |
| Molecular Weight | Custom Mw available; specify at order |
| Solubility | Water-soluble, pH-dependent (more soluble above pKa) |
| Storage Conditions | -20 °C, sealed, protected from moisture |
| Package Sizes | 1 g, 10 g, 100 g per bottle |
Need a specific MPC:AA ratio or an activated -COOH derivative (e.g. NHS ester)? Talk to technical sales →
Choose your ratio by function
More AA means stronger mucoadhesion and ion-binding capacity; more MPC means stronger baseline antifouling performance.
AA-light
Antifouling-dominant
Mostly MPC character — strong baseline protein resistance with a modest mucoadhesive/chelation handle.
Balanced
Dual-function grade
Standard grade for most mucoadhesive delivery and ion-chelation applications.
AA-rich
Mucoadhesion-dominant
Stronger mucin binding and ion chelation, with reduced antifouling background.
Applications
Ophthalmic mucoadhesive gels
Carboxyl groups hydrogen-bond with ocular mucin, extending residence time of eye-drop formulations.
Nasal & buccal drug delivery
Improves mucosal retention for intranasal or oral-mucosal formulations while resisting nonspecific protein fouling.
Metal-ion chelation
Uniform carboxyl spacing gives efficient binding of select metal ions for sensing or capture research.
pH-triggered drug delivery
Carboxyl ionization near physiological pH supports pH-responsive release designs.
Conjugation-ready nanoparticles
Antifouling MPC background plus a -COOH handle for attaching targeting ligands or fluorophores.
Layer-by-layer assembly
Anionic charge supports electrostatic layer-by-layer coating with cationic polymers.
Smart hydrogels
pH-triggered swelling behavior for stimuli-responsive matrices and sensors.
Antifouling biosensor surfaces
Low nonspecific background from MPC plus a covalent attachment site from AA for capture-molecule immobilization.
Data & safety documents
Batch-specific COAs confirm MPC:AA ratio and molecular weight. Contact us for a particular lot number.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format · EN / ZH
Certificate of Analysis
Ratio + Mw confirmation
¹H-NMR Spectrum
Structure confirmation
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
No — as a random copolymer with a configurable monomer ratio, it doesn’t have one universal CAS Registry Number. It’s identified by catalog number, with the monomer CAS numbers (MPC 67881-98-5, AA 79-10-7) provided for reference.
AA lacks the alpha-methyl group that MAA has, so the backbone is more flexible and the carboxyl groups are spaced more uniformly along the chain. This tends to give AA-based copolymers an edge in mucoadhesion and metal-ion chelation, while MAA is more commonly used for general pH-triggered release and bioconjugation work. Both carry the same -COOH conjugation handle.
Ionized carboxyl groups form hydrogen bonds with mucin glycoproteins, and acrylic acid’s flexible, uniformly spaced carboxyls make this interaction especially effective — the same underlying chemistry behind Carbomer/polyacrylic acid gels already used in ophthalmic and mucosal formulations.
Standard EDC/NHS coupling chemistry works directly on the carboxyl groups — activate with EDC and NHS (or Sulfo-NHS), then react with a primary amine on your ligand, peptide, or drug. Pre-activated NHS-ester derivatives are available on request.
Both, in a sense — the MPC units are individually zwitterionic (net-neutral), while the AA units carry an ionizable carboxyl group. Above the carboxyl’s pKa (~4.25), the copolymer picks up net negative charge on top of its zwitterionic background.
Store at -20°C, sealed, and protected from moisture. In solution, buffer pH affects both mucoadhesive/chelation behavior and antifouling performance, so confirm your working pH range before formulation.