Hydrogel networks of poly(ethylene oxide) star-molecules supported by expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes: Characterization, biocompatibility evaluation and glucose diffusion characteristics

The present work discusses the grafting by electron beam irradiation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) star-shaped polymers onto porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EXPTEE) surfaces. The resulting materials are intended to combine the good biocompatible properties of PEO with the outstanding mechanical properties of PTEE. The star-shaped PEOs were synthesized via anionic polymerization 3' Mev electron beam irradiation was applied to graft these PEO stars onto porous EXPTEE surfaces. The hydrophobic EXPTEE surfaces are well known, when implanted in a body, to be rapidly covered by a layer of cells and fibrin. The EXPTEE coated with PEO were implanted in the peritonel cavity of rats (or under the back skin). This implantation did not induce any inflammation reactions and SEM analysis had attested the absence of adsorbed cells and fibrin. The glucose diffusion properties of these membranes were studied by a lag time analysis method and compared to those of pure PEO hydrogels. As expected, glucose diffuses through the hydrogel coated membrane and diffusions is not affected by the pressure by the presence of the EXPTEE membrane.