Radiation-induced graft copolymer SBS-g-VP for biomaterial usage

The grafting of 4-vinyl pyridine (VP) to styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS) by radiation-induced graft copolymerization was studied. The cohesive properties such as cohesive energy (E(coh)), molar volume (V), solubility parameter (δ), molar molecular weight (WM), specific volume (V(g)), and density (1/V(g)) of SBS-g-VP graft copolymer were calculated according to the group contribution of Fedors. The morphology of SBS-g-VP was studied by optical polarizing microscopy. We also measured the glass transition temperature and the mechanical properties of SBS-g-VP graft copolymer. Contact angle and blood-clotting time experiments were also performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of SBS-g-VP. A second domain was found in the SBS-g-VP graft copolymer, which resulted in different properties between SBS-g-VP and SBS. The blood compatibility of SBS-g-VP as measured by the Lee-White clotting test was better than that of SBS and polystyrene.