Phosphorylcholine is an antigenic cell-surface component found on many commensal and pathogenic bacteria that reside in the upper airway.
Phosphorylcholine materials are bio-inspired polymers that mimic the extracellular surface of red blood cells, containing an exact chemical copy of the predominant zwitterionic phospholipid headgroup found in the cell lipid membrane. The phosphorylcholine side chain of the PC-polymer contains the phosphate moiety present in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine, the latter being membrane lipid component that is able to bind calcium and is implicated in biomineralization[1].
[1]. Lawton JM, et al. The effect of cationically-modified phosphorylcholine polymers on human osteoblasts in vitro and their effect on bone formation in vivo. J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2017 Aug 17;28(9):144.