Zwitterionic · pH-Responsive Random Copolymer
Poly(4VP-co-MPC)
Also known as P(4VP-co-MPC), 4VP-MPC copolymer | Custom composition — no single CAS
A random copolymer of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) and MPC (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) on one backbone. The pyridine units add a pH-responsive, quaternizable handle; the MPC units add a permanent phosphorylcholine zwitterion — the same headgroup found in cell membranes — that resists nonspecific protein and cell adsorption. Adjusting the 4VP:MPC feed ratio tunes the balance between responsiveness and antifouling character.
- Custom 4VP:MPC ratio, multiple Mw grades
Custom composition
(C₇H₇N)ₘ-co-(C₁₀H₂₀NO₆P)ₙ
Poly(4VP-co-MPC)
Appearance: White to off-white powder
Character: pH-responsive + zwitterionic
Architecture: Random copolymer
Storage: 2–8 °C, sealed, dark
ISO 9001:2015
Manufactured under certified quality management
Custom 4VP:MPC Ratio
Synthesized to order, pyridine-rich to MPC-rich
Batch-Level COA
Mn, Đ, and composition confirmation per lot
Sample to Bulk
Gram-scale R&D up to bulk supply
CAS No.
Composition-dependent
Molecular Formula
(C₇H₇N)ₘ-co-(C₁₀H₂₀NO₆P)ₙ
Character
Zwitterionic + pH-responsive
Mn Range
10K – 150K
Form
Powder
Why two monomers on one chain
4VP and MPC contribute two independent, complementary behaviors to the same backbone — one that switches with pH, one that never switches at all.
pH-triggered protonation (4VP)
Below its apparent pKa (~4–5), the pyridine N picks up a proton and that unit becomes cationic; above it, the unit is neutral and hydrophobic.
Permanent zwitterion (MPC)
The phosphorylcholine group carries balanced positive and negative charge at every pH, staying strongly hydrated and resistant to protein adsorption regardless of solution conditions.
Ratio sets the balance
A pyridine-rich feed favors responsiveness and post-polymerization functionalization; an MPC-rich feed favors antifouling and hemocompatibility.
Quaternizable handle
The pyridine N can be alkylated post-polymerization to add permanent cationic charge, ionic crosslinking, or antimicrobial character without resynthesizing the backbone.
Unlike PAA/PMAA-type pH-responsive polymers (ionized at high pH), the 4VP units here follow the opposite trend — cationic and swollen at low pH. The MPC units don't respond to pH at all; their zwitterionic character is constant across the range shown.
Values below are representative for this monomer pair. Batch-specific COAs with GPC and composition data are available on request.
Chemical Name | Poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | P(4VP-co-MPC) · 4VP-MPC random copolymer · Poly(4VP-r-MPC) · Zwitterionic-pyridine copolymer |
| Monomer Units | 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) · MPC (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) |
| Architecture | Random (statistical) copolymer — not block or graft |
| 4VP : MPC Ratio | Custom / composition-dependent — commonly 90:10 to 30:70 mol% |
| CAS Number | Not applicable — composition-specific random copolymers are not assigned a single CAS RN |
| Molecular Weight (Mn) | Custom synthesis, typically 10,000–150,000 g/mol |
| Dispersity (Đ) | 1.1–1.3 (RAFT/ATRP) · broader for free-radical routes |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder or film-forming solid |
| Solubility | Water and methanol (MPC-rich); acidic aqueous media and lower alcohols (4VP-rich); DMF/DMSO for mixed ratios |
| Key Functional Groups | Pyridine (basic, quaternizable) · phosphorylcholine zwitterion (betaine-type) |
| Storage Conditions | Sealed, dry, 2–8 °C, protected from light |
Need a specific 4VP:MPC ratio or a narrow-dispersity grade? Talk to technical sales →
Choose the ratio that fits your process
4VP:MPC feed ratio sets where the copolymer sits between pH-responsiveness and antifouling performance.
4VP : MPC ≈ 90:10
Pyridine-rich
Strongest pH-responsiveness and the most available pyridine N for quaternization, metal coordination, or crosslinking.
4VP : MPC ≈ 50:50
Balanced
Meaningful charge switching alongside real antifouling character — a common starting point for coating and delivery work.
4VP : MPC ≈ 30:70
MPC-rich
Dominant zwitterionic hydration layer for maximum protein and cell resistance, with a light pH-responsive handle retained.
Applications
Antifouling coatings
MPC's hydration layer suppresses nonspecific protein and cell adsorption on device and sensor surfaces.
Hemocompatible surfaces
Phosphorylcholine-rich grades reduce platelet and protein fouling on catheters and blood-contacting devices.
pH-responsive drug delivery
Protonatable/quaternizable pyridine units give micelles and nanoparticles pH-triggered swelling or release.
Fouling-resistant membranes
Surface segregation of MPC units reduces flux decline from biofouling in filtration and dialysis membranes.
Layer-by-layer assembly
Protonated or quaternized pyridine units serve as the cationic layer in electrostatic LbL film construction.
Biosensor interfaces
A hydrated MPC background lowers nonspecific binding while pyridine sites anchor metal ions or bioconjugation chemistry.
Stabilizer for nanoparticles
Combines pyridine metal-coordination with a zwitterionic corona for colloidally stable, low-fouling nanoparticles.
Wound-contact materials
Zwitterionic character limits exudate protein fouling while the pyridine handle supports further crosslinking.
Data & safety documents
Batch-specific COAs with GPC and composition (¹H-NMR) data available for order confirmations. Contact us for a specific lot number.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format · EN / ZH
Certificate of Analysis
Latest batch
¹H-NMR Spectrum
Composition confirmation (4VP:MPC)
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
It’s primarily used to build antifouling and hemocompatible surfaces — coatings, membranes, nanoparticles, and biosensor interfaces — where the MPC units resist nonspecific protein/cell binding and the 4VP units add a tunable, pH-responsive or quaternizable handle for charge, crosslinking, or metal binding.
4VP is a small, basic pyridine ring: neutral at high pH, protonated (cationic) at low pH, and permanently quaternizable with alkyl halides. MPC is a zwitterionic phosphorylcholine ester that carries balanced positive and negative charge at all pH values and is strongly hydrated, which is what gives the copolymer its antifouling character.
The MPC component is derived from the same phosphorylcholine headgroup found in cell membrane phospholipids and is widely used in commercial hemocompatible coatings, so MPC-rich compositions are generally well tolerated. Biocompatibility still depends on final composition, molecular weight, and processing, so confirm it for your specific application and regulatory context.
Yes. The 4VP pyridine nitrogen is nucleophilic and can be alkylated post-polymerization (e.g. with alkyl halides) to convert some or all pyridine units into permanently cationic pyridinium groups — a common route to antimicrobial or ionic-crosslinking character without resynthesizing the backbone.
Because it’s a random copolymer, the ratio is set at synthesis and is usually made to order. Common research compositions range from pyridine-rich (~90:10) to MPC-rich (~30:70 mol%); MPC-rich grades favor antifouling behavior, while 4VP-rich grades favor pH-responsiveness and post-polymerization functionalization.
PMPC homopolymer is purely zwitterionic and non-responsive. Copolymerizing with 4VP adds a second, pH- and quaternization-responsive handle to the same chain, enabling stimuli-triggered behavior (swelling, charge switching, cargo release) that PMPC alone cannot provide.
No — unlike well-defined homopolymers such as P4VP, composition-specific random copolymers like this one are not assigned a single CAS Registry Number, since the ratio, Mn, and dispersity are set per synthesis batch. Each lot’s COA documents the actual composition.
Store sealed, dry, at 2–8 °C, and protected from light. Confirm solvent choice against your specific 4VP:MPC ratio — MPC-rich grades favor water/methanol, while 4VP-rich grades favor acidic aqueous media or lower alcohols.