Adhesion between polymer surface modified by graft polymerization and tissue during surgery using an ultrasonically activated scalpel device

Abstract

In the field of surgery, achieving adhesion between a polymer implant and tissue poses a challenge considering that suturing is not appropriate for the stability of such implants. An ultrasonically activated scalpel that generates heat by mechanical vibration and promotes adhesion between a polymer implant and native tissue by pressing the two materials together has very good potential for application in the field. To determine the type of polymer that is suitable for the purpose, we investigated polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) films, the surfaces of which were activated by corona discharge. Graft polymerization was then performed on the corona‐treated surfaces to vary their properties. The corona‐treated PE and PS films grafted with poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(vinyl benzylacrylic acid), and poly(hydroxylethyl acrylate), respectively, adhered to the tissue when the ultrasonically activated scalpel was applied. The heat generated by the mechanical vibration and the applied pressure enabled the carboxyl or hydroxyl groups to bond with the proteins in the extracellular matrix. We therefore concluded that it was possible to integrate this technique in the development of new types of polymer devices that could be stably implanted in a living body. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40885.

Thermal denaturation behavior of collagen fibrils in wet and dry environment

“…The heated collagen in a dehydrated condition is a common cross‐linking method. In accordance with these results, we reported that the adhesion might occur between the polymeric film and the living tissue when heat is applied and the polymeric film presents carboxyl or hydroxyl groups . It should be noted that the water needs to be eliminated for the tissue to be adhered via dehydrothermal cross‐linking.…”

“…The existence of water means that the temperature or the pressure was not high enough to eliminate the water and bring the collagen molecules together. Adhesion between the polymeric film and the living tissue also required high temperature and the pressure for dehydration before the adhesion . Although it is not clear how much water actual remains in the tissue, it is confident that the water contents should be low as much as possible for the collagen molecules to directly attach to the other molecules.…”

Modification of High‐Density Polyethylene through the Grafting of Methyl Methacrylate Using RAFT Technique and Preparation of Its Polymer/Clay Nanocomposites**

“…[12][13][14][15] The grafting process can be achieved using different strategies, including free-radical initiators, ionizing radiation (electron beam, γ-ray, and X-ray) and, UV radiation. [16][17][18][19] The significant problems of these procedures are consist of: little control over the graft operations onto PE backbone, the wide dispensation of molecular weight, a long-lasting modification effect, difficulties in achieving uniform modification, chain depression of PE backbone during the organization of free radical polymerization places, as well as the attendance of it's as a significant of homopolymer in the production. [20][21][22] For many years, many scholars have the intention to apply reversible impoverished radical polymerization (RIRP) for the synthesis of HDPE-based nanocomposite with well-explanatory structures.…”

“…Another affections and versatile approach for surface modification of PE are the grafting of other polymers onto the PE backbone [12–15] . The grafting process can be achieved using different strategies, including free‐radical initiators, ionizing radiation (electron beam, γ‐ray, and X‐ray) and, UV radiation [16–19] . The significant problems of these procedures are consist of: little control over the graft operations onto PE backbone, the wide dispensation of molecular weight, a long‐lasting modification effect, difficulties in achieving uniform modification, chain depression of PE backbone during the organization of free radical polymerization places, as well as the attendance of it's as a significant of homopolymer in the production [20–22] .…”