STUDIES IN POLYMER SURFACE FUNCTIONALIZATION AND GRAFTING FOR BIOMEDICAL AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

A simple and inexpensive treatment for surface functionalization and g rafting carried out under mild aqueous conditions and suitable for pre fabricated medical devices, has been developed. The two stages are per formed separately; the first is hydroxylation by a peroxy compound, pa rticularly a peroxydisulfate or peroxymonosulfate, in aqueous solution with strong nitrogen purging; and the second is grafting of a vinyl m onomer by the conventional ceric ion technique. Types of polymer studi ed include polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane s, aliphatic polyesters, nylons, aromatic polyesters and polycarbonate s. Surface properties of the substrate polymers may be greatly modifie d by this treatment. To illustrate possible applications for covalent coupling of bioactive molecules to polymers we have attached the blood -anticoagulants heparin and hirudin to the polyester Ecdel and to poly styrene, respectively. The products were highly bioactive.