Reactive · Zwitterionic Antifouling Copolymer
Poly(NHSMA-co-MPC)
Also written P(NHSMA-co-MPC), NHSMA-MPC copolymer | Custom composition — no single CAS
A random copolymer of N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate (NHSMA) and MPC (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine). MPC makes up the majority of the chain, giving the polymer a strongly hydrated, low-fouling zwitterionic background; NHSMA is included as a minor, sparsely distributed comonomer, each unit carrying a reactive NHS ester. The result is a low-fouling scaffold that stays “conjugation-ready” — react the NHS sites with an amine-bearing ligand, antibody, dye, or drug without disturbing the antifouling character of the rest of the chain.
- Moisture-sensitive — shipped and stored desiccated
Custom composition
(C₈H₉NO₄)ₘ-co-(C₁₀H₂₀NO₆P)ₙ
Poly(NHSMA-co-MPC)
Appearance: White to off-white powder
Character: Antifouling + amine-reactive
Architecture: Random copolymer
Storage−20 °C, desiccated, dark
ISO 9001:2015
Manufactured under certified quality management
Custom NHSMA:MPC Ratio
Reactive-site density tuned independently of antifouling background
Batch-Level COA
Mn, Đ, composition, and NHS-ester activity per lot
Desiccated Cold-Chain Packaging
Preserves NHS-ester reactivity in transit and storage
CAS No.
Composition-dependent
Molecular Formula
(C₈H₉NO₄)ₘ-co-(C₁₀H₂₀NO₆P)ₙ
Character
Antifouling + amine-reactive
Mn Range
10K – 120K
Form
Powder
A stealth background with a few reactive handles
MPC and NHSMA aren't playing the same role here — one is the bulk material, the other is a sparse functional handle riding on top of it.
MPC: the antifouling majority
The phosphorylcholine zwitterion hydrates strongly and resists nonspecific protein and cell adsorption at every pH — this is what most of the chain is doing.
NHSMA: the sparse reactive minority
Each NHS ester reacts with a primary amine to install exactly one ligand, dye, or biomolecule per site — a small fraction of units is usually enough.
Ratio protects the antifouling character
Keeping NHSMA content low preserves the dense, hydrated MPC background; too much reactive comonomer starts to compromise fouling resistance.
Couple once, keep the background intact
Reacting the NHS sites with your target amine doesn't touch the MPC units — the low-fouling behavior of the rest of the chain is unaffected.
Most reactive-antifouling designs in the literature sit in the 2–15 mol% NHSMA range — enough reactive sites for practical conjugation density without materially compromising the MPC background's resistance to nonspecific adsorption.
Values below are representative for this monomer pair. Batch-specific COAs with GPC, composition, and NHS-ester activity data are available on request.
| Chemical Name | Poly(N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | P(NHSMA-co-MPC) · NHSMA-MPC copolymer · Reactive zwitterionic copolymer |
| Monomer Units | N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate (NHSMA) · MPC (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) |
| Architecture | Random (statistical) copolymer — not block or graft |
| NHSMA : MPC Ratio | Custom / composition-dependent — commonly 2:98 to 20:80 mol% |
| Reactive Group | N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) active ester on NHSMA units, reacts with primary amines |
| CAS Number | Not applicable — composition-specific random copolymers are not assigned a single CAS RN |
| Molecular Weight (Mn) | Custom synthesis, typically 10,000–120,000 g/mol |
| Dispersity (Đ) | 1.1–1.3 (RAFT/ATRP) · broader for free-radical routes |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |
| Solubility | DMF, DMSO, and dry organic solvents for coupling; limited aqueous stability due to NHS-ester hydrolysis |
| Reactivity Note | Hydrolytically unstable in water — dissolve and react promptly; avoid primary-amine buffers |
| Storage | Sealed, desiccated, −20 °C, protected from light and moisture |
Need a specific NHSMA:MPC ratio, or the polymer pre-coupled to your ligand? Talk to technical sales →
Choose the reactive-site density that fits your conjugate
NHSMA:MPC feed ratio sets how many reactive sites are available per chain, and how much that trades off against antifouling density.
NHSMA : MPC ≈ 2:98
MPC-dominant
Maximum antifouling character with just enough reactive sites for sparse, well-controlled single-ligand conjugation.
NHSMA : MPC ≈ 10:90
Balanced
A common working range — meaningful conjugation density (e.g. multiple dyes or ligands per chain) while retaining low fouling.
NHSMA : MPC ≈ 20:80
Reactive-rich
Higher reactive-site density for dense multivalent conjugation, with some reduction in antifouling performance.
Applications
Targeted stealth nanoparticles
An MPC-rich, low-fouling corona with a small number of reactive sites for attaching a targeting ligand or antibody fragment.
Biosensor capture surfaces
Low-fouling MPC background minimizes nonspecific signal, while NHS sites give oriented, covalent capture-antibody immobilization.
Diagnostic microarrays
A low-background MPC surface with defined reactive spots for spotting amine-modified capture probes.
Stealth drug-polymer conjugates
Amine-bearing drugs are coupled to the NHS sites while the MPC background extends circulation and reduces immune recognition.
Hemocompatible bioactive devices
Attach anticoagulants, growth factors, or cell-adhesion peptides onto an otherwise blood-compatible MPC surface.
Reactive antifouling coatings
Device or catheter coatings that resist protein/cell adhesion while remaining chemically addressable for later bioactive functionalization.
Cell-patterning surfaces
Sparse RGD-peptide or growth-factor coupling on an antifouling MPC background creates defined, non-fouling cell-adhesive patterns.
Zwitterionic PPM libraries
One reactive-zwitterionic precursor batch can be split and coupled to different amines to build a library of functionalized MPC-based materials.
Data & safety documents
Batch-specific COAs with GPC, composition (¹H-NMR), and NHS-ester activity data available for order confirmations. Contact us for a specific lot number.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format · EN / ZH
Certificate of Analysis
Ratio + Mw confirmation
Amine Coupling Protocol
Recommended buffers & conditions
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
It’s used wherever you need a low-fouling, biocompatible surface or particle that still needs to carry something specific — a targeting ligand, antibody, dye, or drug. The MPC background keeps nonspecific protein and cell adsorption low, while the sparse NHS sites let you attach exactly what you need without giving up that antifouling character.
MPC units are the antifouling workhorse — a permanent zwitterion that hydrates and resists nonspecific adsorption. NHSMA units are a minor, reactive comonomer — each carries an NHS ester that reacts with a primary amine. Combining them gives a low-fouling material that isn’t a dead end: it still has a defined way to attach something useful.
NHSMA is typically kept to a small minority — commonly 2–20 mol% — so the MPC background still dominates the chain’s overall behavior. Higher NHSMA content gives more reactive sites per chain but starts to reduce antifouling performance, so the ratio is chosen based on how much conjugation density you actually need.
No — MPC units don’t carry primary amines or otherwise compete for the NHS ester, so they’re chemically inert to the coupling reaction itself. The main practical consideration is the same as for any NHS-ester chemistry: work in an amine-free buffer and avoid excess water exposure before coupling.
Dissolve the polymer fresh in a dry organic solvent (or briefly in a cold, amine-free aqueous buffer, pH 7.5–8.5) and add your amine-bearing target promptly — protein, peptide, dye, or small molecule. The amine displaces the NHS leaving group to form a stable amide bond at each reacted site.
No. Plain PMPC homopolymer is purely zwitterionic with no built-in way to attach anything else. This copolymer keeps PMPC’s antifouling character as the majority component but adds a small number of NHS-reactive sites specifically so it can be conjugated to a ligand or biomolecule after the fact.
No — composition-specific random copolymers like this one are not assigned a single CAS Registry Number, since the NHSMA:MPC ratio, Mn, and dispersity are set per synthesis batch. Each lot’s COA documents the actual composition and NHS-ester activity.
Store sealed, desiccated, at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture — the NHS ester is sensitive to both heat and humidity, just as in the NHSMA homopolymer. Allow the container to reach room temperature before opening, dissolve fresh, and react promptly for best coupling efficiency.