Gamma-radiation-induced graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)

Crosslinked poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPy) beads were irradiated with gamm a-rays in air from a Co-60 source. Preirradiated beads were grafted with po lyacrylamide by refluxing with acrylamide in water or dioxane. Conditions f or optimum grafting were determined under a variety of reaction parameters, such as the total dose, duration, and temperature of heating, and the mola r concentration of acrylamide used. The effect of the addition of methanol to the aqueous medium during grafting was also studied. The pendant carboxa mide groups of PVPy-g-polyacrylamide were transformed into amino, aminoethy lamido, and hydrazide functionalities terminating in primary amino or hydra zido groups. These provide sites for immobilizing proteins through their am ino or carboxyl groups and, also, handles for attaching reagent molecules. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.