Temperature- and pH-sensitive interpenetrating polymer networks grafted on PP: Cross-linking irradiation dose as a critical variable for the performance as vancomycin-eluting systems

This work focuses on the effect of gamma-ray radiation conditions on the stimuli-responsiveness and drug-eluting performance of polypropylene (PP) substrates grafted with interpenetrating networks of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylic acid (AAc). PNIPAAm was cross-linked applying 10–100 kGy doses in the presence and absence of the chemical cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). Then, the net-PP-g-PNIPAAm was interpenetrated with PAAc synthesized under a 2.5 kGy dose to obtain net-PP-g-PNIPAAm-inter-net-PAAc films. The amount of grafted PNIPAAm (80%, 125% and 145% levels) and the cross-linking radiation dose (10, 40 and 70 kGy levels) strongly determine the interpenetration of PAAc, the swelling degree, the amount of vancomycin loaded and its release rate. The chemical cross-linker only caused a minor decrease in the degree of swelling. The higher the PNIPAAm grafted on PP and the lower the cross-linking radiation dose, the more the PAAc in the IPN and, consequently, the higher the vancomycin loaded through specific interactions and the more sustained the release (>8 h). The films possessing these features exhibited vancomycin release rate per surface unit suitable to prevent bacterial growth. Thus, adequate tuning of the radiation doses during grafting and cross-linking of the PNIPAAm networks may enable to achieve surface-modified materials for medical devices with an antibiofilm performance.

► PP grafted with IPN of NIPAAm/AAc for stimuli-responsiveness and drug-eluting performance.
► The effects of radiation dose and monomers concentration were evaluated.
► Swelling of the grafted IPN as function of temperature, pH and time was characterized.
► PNIPAAm amount and crosslinking affect PAAc interpenetration and vancomycin uptake.
► The modified surface-responsive PP-based devices were able to elute vancomycin at tunable rate.