Radiation-grafting of thermo- and pH-responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) onto silicone rubber and polypropylene films for biomedical purposes

• Graft copolymers synthesized by simultaneous polymerization and grafting under distinct conditions: irradiation and grafting reactions.
• Simultaneous grafting of NVCL-co-AAc from PP and SR achieved via a γ-ray pre-irradiation method.
• Grafted NVCL-co-AAc onto PP or SR substrates led to thermo and pH stimuli responsive properties.

This work focuses on the effects of gamma-ray irradiation conditions on the stimuli-responsiveness of polypropylene (PP) films and silicone (SR) rubber substrates grafted with N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and acrylic acid (AAc). PP films and SR rubber were modified by simultaneous polymerization and grafting of NVCL and AAc, using pre-irradiation oxidative method at a dose rate of 12.23 kGy h−1 and doses ranging from 5 to 70 kGy. NVCL and AAc solutions (1/1, v/v) at 50% monomer concentration (v/v) in toluene were added to the sample substrates, degassed, sealed and heated at 60 and 70 °C for 12 h. After grafting, the samples were soaked in ethanol and distilled water for 24 h successively, followed by drying under vacuum. Samples were characterized by FTIR-ATR, DSC and swelling measurements. Critical points (pH critical or LCST) of grafts were obtained in a pH-environment (pH ranges from 2.2 to 9) and in a thermo-environment (temperature ranges from 22 to 50 °C). Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed using fibroblast BALB/c 3T3 cells. The relationship between NVCL-co-AAc grafting and radiation dose was different for each substrate, PP and SR. At 50% NVCL/AAc concentration in toluene, grafting values were higher for SR than for PP. Despite the fact that PP-g-(NVCL-co-AAc) membrane presented a cytotoxic profile at the highest experimental concentration assayed, cytotoxicity evaluation revealed noncytotoxic profiles for the membranes synthesized highlighting their applications for biomedical purposes.