Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sheets were surface grafted with acrylamide under reduced pressure in a solvent free vapour of acrylamide and benzophenone. The grafting was initiated with UV irradiation and no pre-treatment of PMMA by impregnation or sorption of reactants was required. Characterization of grafted samples by ESCA and contact angles showed that the nitrogen content increased with grafting time and temperature. The surface bound amide groups obtained were converted into amine groups by the Hofmann reaction and used in coupling reactions with a p-nitrophenyl carbonate terminated PEG and 4,4,4-trifluoro butyraldehyde. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.