A novel biomedical compatibilizer (polyvinyl alcohol-allyl polyethylene glycol graft copolymer) for polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide composite system

Due to biocompatibility and similar extracellular matrix structure, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofiber membranes are an essential medical dressing. However, the phase separation of the PVA/PEO composite system will occur within a short time. It severely limits the continuous preparation of PVA/PEO nanofiber membranes. To make PVA/PEO composite system maintain compatibility, a novel polyvinyl alcohol-allyl polyethylene glycol (PVA-g-APEG) graft copolymer with phase change, compatibilization and biocompatibility was prepared successfully. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) prove that the copolymerization and alcoholysis reaction allyl polyethylene glycol (APEG) and vinyl acetate (VAc) successfully obtained PVA-g-APEG graft copolymer. The prepared PVA-g-APEG not only has electrospinability but can effectively prevent the phase separation of PVA/PEO composite system, which ensures the continuity of electrospinning in the industry. Additionally, the feasibility of the PVA-g-APEG compatibilized PVA/PEO composite system for application in biomedical was verified through the preparation and various assessments of PVA-g-APEG/PVA/PEO nanofiber dressings. The prepared PVA-g-APEG is beneficial to the PVA/PEO composite system to broaden its application in biomedical and other fields.