Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharges for the Deposition of Organic Plasma Polymer Coatings for Biomedical Application

Abstract

Atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) are proving to have great potential in the bioengineering and medical field for functionalisation of biomaterials. The ability to operate in open atmosphere in a continuous process makes DBD a preferred method over conventional surface engineering techniques and low pressure plasma material processing. DBDs are characterised by configurations with a dielectric layer between conducting electrodes in the discharge path. The success in the application of DBDs in the modification of biomaterials has been demonstrated in many research articles. This review surveys DBD plasma-based methods for the production of organic polymer coatings on biomaterials that contain reactive chemical species useful for subsequent biomedical application. In the first part of this paper, a general introduction in the field of surface engineering will be given. The review then focuses on a brief overview of plasma-based deposition techniques including those of atmospheric plasmas. A brief knowledge of the operation and formation of DBDs are then presented. The application of DBDs for the deposition of coatings with different functionalities and for different biomedical applications are reviewed. The current challenges related to the discharge characteristics and thin organic coatings specific to stability and ageing processes are also discussed.