Abstract
Demand for medical implants is rising day by day as the world becomes the place for more diseased and older people. Accordingly, in this research, metallocene polyethylene (mPE), a commonly used polymer was treated with UV rays for improving its biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the formation of crests and troughs, which depicts the improvement of surface roughness of mPE substrates caused by UV etching. Accordingly, the contact angle measurements revealed that the wettability of mPE-2.5 J/cm2 (68.09º) and mPE-5 J/cm2 (57.93º) samples were found to be increased compared to untreated mPE (86.84º) indicating better hydrophilicity. Further, the UV treated surface exhibited enhanced blood compatibility as determined in APTT (untreated mPE- 55.3 ± 2.5 s, mPE-2.5 J/cm2 - 76.7 ± 4.1 s and mPE-5 J/cm2 - 112.3 ± 2 s) and PT (untreated mPE - 24.7 ± 1.5 s, mPE- 2.5 J/cm2 - 34.3 ± 1.1 s and mPE-5 J/cm2 - 43 ± 2 s) assay. Moreover, the treated mPE-2.5 J/cm2 (4.88%) and mPE-5 J/cm2 (1.79%) showed decreased hemolytic percentage compared to untreated mPE (15.40%) indicating better safety to red blood cells. Interestingly, the changes in physicochemical properties of mPE are directly proportional to the dosage of the UV rays. UV modified mPE surfaces were found to be more compatible as identified through MTT assay, photomicrograph and SEM images of the seeded 3T3 cell population. Hence UV-modified surface of mPE may be successfully exploited for medical implants.
Highlights
Biomaterials are the promising choice of materials for an extensive range of applications in both diagnostic and therapeutic industries (Hollinger2011, Bhat and Kumar 2013)
Surface properties of a material play an important role in creating a favourable environment for the cells to regenerate and in averting the damages of blood native components
Technologies existing in this modern era paves a way for the exploration of several advanced materials, the availability of those materials for medical use will take a few decades of time as it has to undergo a series of clinical trials
Summary
Biomaterials are the promising choice of materials for an extensive range of applications in both diagnostic and therapeutic industries (Hollinger2011, Bhat and Kumar 2013). Through the contact angle test, we can infer whether a particular material is hydrophilic or hydrophobic by measuring the angle of water droplet placed on the surface of the sample. Before seeding the cultured cells, the untreated and treated mPE samples were cut into small discs and were properly washed with 70% alcohol and stored in the sterile environment.
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