Affinity of amine-functionalized plasma polymers with ionic solutions similar to those in the human body

Abstract

This work presents a study on the synthesis and on the interaction of allylamine, pyrrole and ethylenglycol polymerized by plasma with solutions of ionic composition similar to those in the nervous system. These polymers are attractive substrates to interact with the ionic pulses of the spinal cord due to their electrical and biocompatible characteristics. The ionic solutions were prepared with aqueous combinations of NaCl, MgSO 4, KH 2PO 4, KCl, CaCl 2, and NHCO 3. The polymers were prepared as thin films on glass substrates. The results indicated that some of the most important physical characteristics in the hydrophilicity of the polymers, roughness, porosity and functional groups, can be controlled with the energy of polymerization. The interaction between polymers and solutions was studied measuring the contact angle at the solid–liquid interface and the electrical conductivity of the polymers wet with these solutions. The contact angles were between 8° and 38°, and the electrical conductivity was in the 10 −8 to 10 −9 S/cm interval. The general tendencies indicate that the amine-functionalized polymers of this work are good materials to interact with the spinal cord system.