Surface properties directly affect the performance of a material in a biological environment. In this study, the goal was to develop a simple procedure allowing the grafting of antibacterial polysaccharides onto biomedical grade polyurethanes (e.g. Tecothane (R)). Thus, a straightforward chemical pathway involving an isothiocyanate-alcohol reaction in an ionic liquid (IL) was developed. PU isothiocyanted surfaces (PU-NCS) were first prepared by reactingp-phenylene diisothiocyanate with the surface urethane groups. Then, unmodified bioactive seaweed polysaccharides were directly grafted onto the surface, in mild conditions. The selected IL, i.e. 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium phosphate, was of particular interest since this liquid worked as solvent for p-phenylene diisothiocyanate and the polysaccharides and as catalyst for the grafting reactions. Successful grafting of the different polysaccharides was attested by changes in the surface functional groups, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that polysaccharide grafting, slightly increased the surface roughness from 1.9 to more than 7 nm. Contact angle with water decreased from 88 degrees (for native PU) to around 75 degrees after polysaccharide grafting, attesting a more hydrophilic surface. This procedure would be transposed to the grafting onto PU surfaces of any macromolecule of interest bearing hydroxyl, thiol or amine groups. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.