Ceric-Ion-Initiating Surface Graft Polymerization with Regional Control and Dimensional Precision

This paper reports a surface modification method enabling graft copolymerization with regional control and dimensional precision. The method was based on dimensionally well-controlled photofixation of hydroxylated synthetic polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol) or naturally occurring polysaccharides such as alginic acid and pectic acid, both of which were partially derivatized with a photoreactive p -azidophenyl group, followed by ceric-ion-initiating graft polymerization. ESCA measurements verified surface fixation of hydroxylated polymers and graft polymerization of vinyl polymers such as acrylamide and acrylic acid, which proceeded on ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated surface portions. Regional control of surface graft polymerization with dimensional precision was demonstrated by a patterned tissue produced by cells cultured on the microprocessed surface thus prepared.