Radiation-grafting of vinyl monomers separately onto polypropylene monofilament sutures

N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), 2-hydroxyethyhnethacrylate (HEMA) and N-vinylimidazole (NVIm) were grafted separately onto polypropylene (PP) monofilament sutures. These grafted copolymers have properties with potential application in the synthesis of new medical devices. Co-60 gamma radiation was employed with dose rate of 9.2 kGyh(-1) in synthesis of copolymers with different grafting percentages: PP-g-PNIPAAm from 11% to 175%, PP-g-PHEMA from 6% to 130%, and PP-g-PNVIm from 10% to 17%. Both NIPAAm and HEMA were grafted applying the pre-irradiation method under different reaction conditions: dose, temperature, monomer concentration and reaction time; NVIm was grafted by simultaneous method with doses from 20 up to 60 kGy. Grafted polymers were characterized by FTIR-ATR, TGA and DSC; and their swelling in water was recorded. Modified suture PP-g-PNIPAAm had thermo-responsive properties while PP-g-PNVIm exhibited pH sensitive swelling. Overall, the implemented grafting strategies provided a hydrophilic surface layer that did not cause detrimental effects on mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of the sutures.