Photopolymerizable Materials for Improved Cochlear Implants

Allan Guymon, University of Iowa

Abstract: Many implantable materials lack sufficient compatibility with host tissue and often accumulate significant response from the body. Coating the surface of these materials using photopolymerization may improve compatibility without compromising mechanical properties. In this work, a zwitterionic polymer was patterned onto material surfaces using photografting. Areas coated with the zwitterionic polymer showed reduced adhesion from biomolecules and various cell types. These results provide insight for advancing cochlear implants and photopolymerizable biomaterials.