Surface modification of high density polyethylene tubes by coating chitosan, chitosan hydrogel and heparin

Chitosan and chitosan hydrogel were immobilized on both the inside and outside surfaces of high density polyethylene (HDPE) tubes with 2.5x4 mm diameters. First, acrylic acid was grafted on the surfaces of HDPE by electron beam (2.5 Mrad) preirradiation method. Then chitosan/HCl and chitosan/lactic acid solutions were coated on the modified hydrophilic HDPE surfaces, the latter could form a pH-sensitive hydrogel layer on the surfaces. The tube surfaces were further modified with heparin by surface interpenetrating method to improve blood compatibility. ATR-FTIR and ESCA methods were used to characterize the coated surfaces. The morphology changes were monitored by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).