Abstract
Self-standing biocompatible films have yet to be prepared by physical or chemical vapor deposition assisted by plasma polymerization because gaseous monomers have thus far been used to create only polymer membranes. Using a nongaseous monomer, we previously found a simple fabrication method for a free-standing thin film prepared from solution by plasma polymerization, and a nano-suit made by polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate can render multicellular organisms highly tolerant to high vacuum. Here we report thin films prepared by plasma polymerization from various monomer solutions. The films had a flat surface at the irradiated site and were similar to films produced by vapor deposition of gaseous monomers. However, they also exhibited unique characteristics, such as a pinhole-free surface, transparency, solvent stability, flexibility, and a unique out-of-plane molecular density gradient from the irradiated to the unirradiated surface of the film. Additionally, covering mosquito larvae with the films protected the shape of the organism and kept them alive under the high vacuum conditions in a field emission-scanning electron microscope. Our method will be useful for numerous applications, particularly in the biological sciences.
Highlights
Biocompatible functional films are becoming increasingly important for bioengineering
During Physical vapor deposition (PVD) plasma polymerization, the small molecules must be in the gaseous state, and in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) they must be carried by a gaseous plasma source
Self-standing biocompatible films have yet to be prepared by PVD or CVD because the monomers for biocompatible polymers are nonvolatile
Summary
Biocompatible functional films are becoming increasingly important for bioengineering. The unique properties of biocompatible films, which are fabricated from biocompatible molecules with hydrophilic groups, have been exploited in engineering and bioengineering [1,2,3]. Water-insoluble self-standing polymer films have been the subject of intensive research for many applications. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) combined with plasma polymerization are well-established methods for making self-standing films from small molecules [4,5]. During PVD plasma polymerization, the small molecules must be in the gaseous state, and in CVD they must be carried by a gaseous plasma source. Self-standing biocompatible films have yet to be prepared by PVD or CVD because the monomers for biocompatible polymers are nonvolatile
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