Abstract
The extreme hydrophobicity of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) hinders bone-tissue integration, thus limiting the use of ePTFE in medical implant applications. To improve the potential of ePTFE as a biomaterial, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was grafted onto the ePTFE surface using the gamma irradiation technique. The characteristics of the grafted ePTFE were successfully evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under the tensile test, the modified ePTFE was found to be more brittle and rigid than the untreated sample. In addition, the grafted ePTFE was less hydrophobic with a higher percentage of water uptake compared to the untreated ePTFE. The protein adsorption test showed that grafted ePTFE could adsorb protein, which was denoted by the presence of N peaks in the XPS analysis. Moreover, the formation of the globular mineral on the grafted ePTFE surface was successfully visualized using the FESEM analysis, with a ratio of 1.94 for Ca:P minerals by the EDX. To summarize, the capability of the modified ePTFE to show protein adsorption and mineralization indicates the improvement of the polymer properties, and it can potentially be used as a biomaterial for implant application.
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