Method for grafting polymers on metallic substrates

1. A method of conferring modified properties to a metallic substrate surface, the surface being formed at least partly by metal oxides, comprising:

(i) a first step comprising at least exposing said substrate surface to a hetero-bifunctional anchoring molecule carrying at least a silane group and at least a A 1 group, said A 1 group being optionally introduced within said anchoring molecule via a preliminary functionalizing step, and

(ii) a second step of exposing the substrate surface to a polymer carrying at least three groups A 2 capable of reacting with A 1 , the second step being carried out after the first step,

the group A 1 being an alkenyl group or —SH and the group A 2 being —SH or a group —S—S—R′ when A 1 is an alkenyl group and A 2 being an alkenyl group when A 1 is —SH, with R′ being a polymer,

wherein said polymer has a number average molecular weight between 2,000 and 5,000,000 g/mol.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring molecule is covalently attached to the substrate surface as a result of the first step and wherein the polymer is covalently attached to the anchoring molecule as a result of the second step.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the modified properties conferred to the metal substrate surface are chosen from the group consisting of hydrophilic character; improved hydrophobic character; cytotoxic properties; antibiotic, bactericidal, viricidal and/or fungicidal properties; cell-adhesion property; improved biocompatibility; protein repellency; adhesion property; electric conductivity property and reactivity property rendering said surface able to immobilize biomolecules.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said polymer is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polyacrylamides, polyacrylates, polyvinyl polymers, polystyrenes, polyalcohols, polyvinylalcohols, polyallylalcohols, polyvinylbenzyl polymers, polyamines, polyethyleneimines, polyallylamines, polymethacrylates, polymethacrylamides, polyethers, polyethylene glycols, polyesters, poly(DL-lactides), polyamides, polyurethanes, poly(ethylene-alt-succinimides), polysaccharides, dextrans, celluloses, hydroxyethylcelluloses, methylcelluloses, polyureas, polyanilines, polypeptides, polypyrroles and polythiophenes, their mixtures, copolymers and derivatives.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said polymer is a polyether or a polysaccharide.

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring molecule is of the following formula (I):

wherein:

X represents a bivalent group chosen from the group consisting of a (C 1 -C 18 )alkylene group optionally interrupted by 1 to 3 (C 1 -C 4 )alkenylene groups and/or 1 to 3 (C 5 -C 10 )arylene groups and/or optionally substituted by 1 to 3 (C 1 -C 4 )alkenyl groups and/or 1 to 3 (C 5 -C 10 )aryl groups, a bifunctional statistical polymer having a molecular mass of about 1,000 to 10,000 g/mol, and a 1,m-phenylene group with m=2, 3 or 4,

R1, R2 and R3 represent independently a substituent chosen from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, halogen atoms, (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl groups, (C 1 -C 6 )alkoxy groups,

A 1 represents either —SH or —RaC=CRbRc and Ra, Rb and Rc represent independently a substituent chosen from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl groups.

7. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the group A 2 is an alkenyl group —RaC=CRbRc and A 1 is —SH, with Ra, Rb and Rc representing independently a substituent chosen from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl groups.

8. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a titanium-based material, a silicon-based material comprising a silicium oxide surface, or an iron-based material comprising an iron oxide surface.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the second step (ii) is carried out in the presence of a photoinitator in a content of at most 10% by weight with respect to the total volume of the solution.

10. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the second step (ii) is carried out with photoactivation, in the presence of a photoinitator in a content of 0 to 1% by weight with respect to the total volume of the solution.

11. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is chosen from the group consisting of medical implants and research tools.

12. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the method confers an anti-adhesive property to medical implants and to surgical instruments, or confers an adhesive and/or cell-growth promoting property to medical implants or for internal/external bone-fracture fixation, and implants used in maxillofacial and craniofacial treatments.

13. A method of conferring modified properties to a metallic substrate surface, the surface being formed at least partly by metal oxides, comprising:

(i) a first step comprising at least exposing said substrate surface to a hetero-bifunctional anchoring molecule carrying at least a silane group and at least a A 1 group, said A 1 group being optionally introduced within said anchoring molecule via a preliminary functionalizing step, and

(ii) a second step of exposing the substrate surface to a polymer carrying at least one group A 2 capable of reacting with A 1 , the second step being carried out after the first step,

the group A 1 being an alkenyl group and the group A 2 being —SH or a group —S—S—R′ with R′ being a polymer,

the number average molecular weight of said polymer being greater than 1,000 g/mol.