| Abstract Scope |
Recently investigated smart or intelligent polymeric materials suitable for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug-eluting medical devices were synthesized by novel radiation-grafting method. Smart biomaterials in the form of polymeric films, sutures, catheters or cotton gauzes were prepared via gamma radiation-grafting of pH and thermo sensitive polymers using either the pre-irradiation or the direct method. The use of synthetic materials has become an established practice in several areas of surgical treatment. Radiation-grafting of acrylic monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, N-isopropylacrylamide, etc. onto medical devices (suture thread, cotton gauze, silicon rubber, polyurethane catheter, etc.) can endow the medical device with a remarkable capability to host drugs and to sustain their release for several hours or days. |