SYNOPSISGraft copolymerization of binary mixtures of vinylene carbonate (VCA) and N-vinyl-Nmethylacetamide (VIMA) onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) films was studied by the mutual y-irradiation technique. Sufficient amounts of functionally active VCA groups could be grafted onto the surface and the hydrophilicity of the surface was also improved. The grafting of VCA onto polyethylene films in the binary solutions was found to be promoted by the presence of VIMA, thus showing a positive synergism. The VCA content in the graft copolymers was always higher than in the copolymers obtained by homogeneous copolymerization using the same monomer feed composition. The monomer reactivity ratios, as well as a preferential partitioning of the monomers surrounding the polymeric substrate, were considered to explain the grafting reactions in the binary systems.
INTRODUCTIONSurface modification of polymers has received a great deal of attention during the last decades since it could bring about specific surface properties including adhesion, printability, nonthrombogenicity, and antistatic properties, among others.Since the major problems for application of biomaterials that contact blood occur at the blood-material interface, much research has focused in recent years on the creation of biocompatible surfaces. Grafting of monomers makes it possible to introduce a wide variety of properties on the surface.As suggested by Andrade et al.,' hydrogels are highly blood compatible because of their low interfacial energy when in contact with blood. Hydrogels and hydrophilic surfaces have been developed by graft polymerization of hydrophilic monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) , N-vinylpyrrolidone ( NVP ) , or acrylamide ( AAm) , [2][3][4][5][6] onto hydrophobic polymers. The grafted substrates showed an improved blood compatibility as compared with the nongrafted polymeric supports. It has been proved that the biological endothelium owes its nonthrombogenic character to its negative charge so that it is obvious that the chemical group distribution involving polar and nonpolar components plays a significant role in blood ~ompatibility.~ In addition, a particular ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic sites on a surface may be important for optimal blood c~rnpatibility.~,~ Attempts have been made to elucidate the interrelationship between the hydrophilic-hydrophobic composition of a polymeric material and the biological interactions with that material by graft copolymerization of mixtures of hydrophilic monomers, such as HEMA, and hydrophobic monomers, such as ethyl methacrylate (EMA) , onto a polymeric matrix."*"On the other hand, as combinations of polymeric materials with physiologically active substances, such as heparinI2 and prostaglandin, l3 which inhibit fibrin deposition, or fibrinolytic enzymes, such as urokinase, l4 have exhibited a good blood compatibility, some efforts have been made to functionalize the polymeric surface with reactive groups for further immobilization of bioactive agents. Glycidyl methacr...