Synthesis and characterization of acrylamide-N-isopropyl acrylamide copolymer grafts on silicone rubber substrates

Radiation grafting has been used to modify the surface composition of a polymeric biomaterial without changing its mechanical properties. The graft copolymer surface modifications may result in significant changes in protein and cell adhesion to the surface, and thus in the overall biological response to the foreign material. In this paper we present a study of the radiation grafting of an unusual monomer, N-isopropyl acrylamide, and its copolymers with acrylamide, onto silicone rubber. This graft system may be able to influence protein adsorption and cell interactions in a unique fashion due to the special hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and the unusual hydration character of the grafted copolymer.