Abstract
Samples of polymer polyethylene terephthalate were exposed to a weakly ionized gaseous plasma to modify the polymer surface properties for better cell cultivation. The gases used for treatment were sulfur dioxide and oxygen of various partial pressures. Plasma was created by an electrodeless radio frequency discharge at a total pressure of 60 Pa. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed weak functionalization of the samples’ surfaces with the sulfur, with a concentration around 2.5 at %, whereas the oxygen concentration remained at the level of untreated samples, except when the gas mixture with oxygen concentration above 90% was used. Atomic force microscopy revealed highly altered morphology of plasma-treated samples; however, at high oxygen partial pressures this morphology vanished. The samples were then incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Biological tests to determine endothelialization and possible toxicity of the plasma-treated polyethylene terephthalate samples were performed. Cell metabolic activity (MTT) and in vitro toxic effects of unknown compounds (TOX) were assayed to determine the biocompatibility of the treated substrates. The biocompatibility demonstrated a well-pronounced maximum versus gas composition which correlated well with development of the surface morphology.
Highlights
Polymer materials often require surface modification to achieve the best results in particular applications [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Different methods can be used for modification of the polymer surface properties, including chemical treatments, irradiation with photons, irradiation with ion or electron beams and treatment by gaseous plasmas created by electric discharges
The concentration of oxygen and sulfur on the polymer surface as extracted from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectra is presented in Obviously, the surface of the samples is saturated with sulfur groups upon a half-minute of plasma treatment what is sound with the results reported by other authors [33]
Summary
Polymer materials often require surface modification to achieve the best results in particular applications [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Different methods can be used for modification of the polymer surface properties, including chemical treatments, irradiation with photons, irradiation with ion or electron beams and treatment by gaseous plasmas created by electric discharges (corona, dielectric barrier discharge, glow discharge, etc.). Among all of these methods, plasma treatments remain the most prominent techniques for surface modification [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. In biomedical applications, oxygen plasma was found to Polymers 2017, 9, 82; doi:10.3390/polym9030082 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
