Preparation and characterization of poly(<scp>L</scp>‐lactide) membranes prepared by γ‐radiation‐induced grafting of <i>N</i>‐vinyl pyrrolidone

Abstract

Abstract A copolymer, poly( L ‐lactide)‐ g ‐poly( N ‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PLLA‐ g ‐PVP) was prepared with poly( L ‐lactide) (PLLA) and N ‐vinyl pyrrolidone in the presence of methanol as a solvent by γ‐ray irradiation. The structure of PLLA‐ g ‐PVP was characterized by 1 H‐NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The PLLA‐ g ‐PVP graft ratio calculated by the percentage increase in weight increased with the increase of absorbed dose, and the percentage crystallinity of PLLA‐ g ‐PVP decreased with increasing graft ratio. The introduction of the poly( N ‐vinyl pyrrolidone) chain into PLLA resulted in a decrease in the contact angle of PLLA‐ g ‐PVP with increasing graft ratio. In vitro degradation testing showed that PLLA‐ g ‐PVP had a higher degradation rate both in the weight‐loss test and molecular weight measurement because of a lower crystalline percentage and higher hydrophilicity compared to PLLA. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009