Grafting copolymerization of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) onto pre-irradiated cellulose films

Grafting of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and poly(ethylene glycol mathacrylate) (PEGMA) onto cellulose films was performed using the pre-irradiation grafting method. The effects of monomer concentration, solvent system and co-solvent composition, and reaction time on the degree of grafting were determined. The grafted samples were confirmed by FT-IR-ATR spectra. The blood compatibilities of the grafted cellulose were evaluated by platelet-rich plasma contact studies and viewed by scanning electron microscopy; non-grafted cellulose film sample was used as references. As a result, MPC and MPC/PEGMA were grafted on the surface of cellulose films. It was found that fewer platelets adhered to the MPC-grafted surfaces and that they showed less shape variation than the ungrafted references.