We propose here a rational approach to design polymers with immunosuppressive effects for anti-inflammatory therapies. It has been revealed that apoptotic cells modify the morphology of immune cells to express immunosuppressive phenotypes via externalized phosphatidylserine on their surface. Inspired by this phenomenon, apoptotic cell membrane-inspired polymers were modified post-polymerization with phosphoryl serine (PS) groups. In this study, we applied the phosphoramidite method to four commonly used polymers in biomaterials: copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide, butyl methacrylate, as well as poly(epsilon-caprolactone), and poloxamers. The successful addition of PS groups was confirmed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, P-31 NMR spectroscopy and, gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), and their cytotoxicity and immunosuppressive effects were demonstrated using murine macrophage cells. PS-modified polymers were found to successfully protect macrophages from lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. We believe that the proposed design is expected to open new doors in developing advanced immunosuppressive agents and materials for anti-inflammatory therapies as PS-modification is highly versatile for a variety of materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.