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Abstract

A method for modifying the surface of a material adapted for contact with tissue of a human or non-human animal to impart biofunctional, bioactive or biomimetic properties to the surface comprising: (a) exposing the surface to a solution comprising (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixture thereof capable, via the ethylenic unsaturation, of gamma irradiation or electron beam induced polymerization, and (2) at least one biofunctional agent; and (b) irradiating the surface with gamma or electron beam irradiation in the presence of the solution to thereby form on the surface a graft polymerized coating, the coating having physically entrapped therein or chemically bonded thereto molecules of the at least one biofunctional agent which imparts biofunctional or biomimetic properties to the surface; wherein the gamma or electron beam irradiation induced polymerization is conducted under one of the following conditions: A. (i) monomer concentration in the solution in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; (ii) total gamma or electron beam dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and (iii) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2,500 rads/min., or electron beam dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 10.sup.8 rads/min.; B. (i) hydrophilic monomer(s) graft under conditions which may include monomer pre-soak or plasma gamma surface modification (especially for metal or glass substrates in latter case); and (ii) graft polymerization of monomer(s) with bioactive/biofunctional molecules using (i) as substrate; C. (i) Hydrograft.TM. as in A or B above followed by dehydration and adsorption of bioactive/biofunctional molecules into the hydrophilic polymer graft; wherein the biological properties of the biofunctional agent are substantially maintained.

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