A
grafting reagent and related method of using the
reagent to form a polymeric layer on a
support surface, and particularly a porous
support surface, in a manner that provides and / or preserves desired properties (such as
porosity) of the surface. The
reagent and method can be used to provide a thin, conformable, uniform, uncrosslinked
coating having desired properties onto the surface of a preformed, and particularly a porous, polymeric substrate. The method includes the steps of a) providing a porous
support surface, b) providing a nonpolymeric
grafting reagent comprising a photoinitator group, c) providing one or more polymerizable monomers adapted to be contacted with the surface, in the presence of the
grafting reagent, and to be polymerized upon activation of the
photoinitiator; and d) applying the grafting reagent and
monomer(s) to the surface in a manner, and under conditions, suitable to coat the surface with the grafting reagent and to cause the
polymerization of monomers to the surface upon activation of the grafting reagent.