Effect of CO2 plasma exposure on physico-chemical properties of porous polycaprolactone scaffold

Abstract

Carbon dioxide plasma was employed for the surface modification of tubular poly(caprolactone) porous matrix. Effect of plasma exposure over surface functionality, mechanical properties, surface morphology, pore size and crystal structure was investigated. Plasma modification is useful in achieving desired surface chemical properties without much alteration in the bulk properties of material. This process yields a porous tubular structure of 40 ± 11 MPa tensile strength, 464 ± 101 % tensile strain, 226 ± 41 g f suture retention strength and 52 % crystallinity. Profound influence of plasma exposure time over pore size and crystal form transition has been observed. Surface became hydrophilic in nature as evident from the low contact angle with 60 s exposure. The resulted surface-modified PCL tubular porous matrix with –COOH density of 40 nM/cm2 can anchor maximum of 2.67 mg/cm2 gelatin on the surface.