Polypropylene-grafted-polyacrylonitrile (PP-g-PAN) sutures were prepared by graft polymerization of acrylonitrile onto polypropylene (PP) monofilament using a preirradiation method. The grafted PP monofilaments were subsequently hydrolyzed to introduce carboxyl groups for antimicrobial drug immobilization. The maximum conversion of nitrile groups into carboxyl groups was limited to about 62% and produced sutures with carboxyl content ranging from 0.042 to 0.25 mmol/g. The physical characteristics of sutures were evaluated by FTIR, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In general, the hydrolysis did not cause any significant variation in crystalline structure. The mechanical strength was affected in all the grafted sutures. The tensile strength of sutures was investigated as a function of the degree of grafting. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.