Immobilization of polyethylene oxide surfactants for non-fouling biomaterial surfaces using an argon glow discharge treatment

Abstract

A non-fouling (protein-resistant) polymer surface is achieved by the covalent immobilization of polyethylene oxide (PEO) surfactants using an inert gas discharge treatment. Treated surfaces have been characterized using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS), water contact angle measurement, fibrinogen adsorption, and platelet adhesion. This paper is intended to review our recent work in using this simple surface modification process to obtain wettable polymer surfaces in general, and non-fouling biomaterial surfaces in particular.

Control of uniformity of plasma-surface modification inside of small-diameter polyethylene tubing using microplasma diagnostics

“…First, a surfactant is coated on the surface to be modified and then it is exposed to an inert gas plasma. During the inert-gas plasma exposure, crosslinking between the surfactant and the polymer substrate may occur, thus covalently coupling part of the precoated surfactant to the lumenal surface of the tubing by the Crosslinking by Active Species of INert Gases ("CASING") method [30]- [32]. Since an inert gas is used, there is no significant change in gas-phase plasma chemistry along the tubing, since argon is not consumed by the surfactant or the substrate during plasma exposure [32].…”

“…During the inert-gas plasma exposure, crosslinking between the surfactant and the polymer substrate may occur, thus covalently coupling part of the precoated surfactant to the lumenal surface of the tubing by the Crosslinking by Active Species of INert Gases ("CASING") method [30]- [32]. Since an inert gas is used, there is no significant change in gas-phase plasma chemistry along the tubing, since argon is not consumed by the surfactant or the substrate during plasma exposure [32]. Thus, this technique is ideal for treating the lumenal surface of small-diameter polymer tubing, since the consumption of gas is negligible, making it easier to control the uniformity of the microplasma treatment.…”

“…Hollow cathode (HC) electrodes [24]- [26] were placed in vacuum at each end of the PE tubing creating a microplasma along the entire length of the tubing. Instead of using PP, we use plasma immobilization (PI) [27]- [31], to immobilize a Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) surfactant [32], [33] to the lumenal surface of polyethylene (PE) tubing. We will show that immobilized PEO is useful for the reduction of adhering human platelets to the lumenal surface after exposure to blood flow in an in vitro blood circulation loop.…”

Chemical Modification of Surfaces

“…One method of accomplishing this cross-linking is to briefly expose the adsorbed biomolecules to an Ar glow discharge. (39) However, the length and power of Ar glow discharge treatment must be carefully controlled. If the biomolecules are too lightly crosslinked, their stability will still be a problem.…”

Surface modification of collagen‐based artificial cornea for reduced endothelialization

“…14,15 It is believed that water content and mechanical properties of PHEMA hydrogel do not allow anchorage of adhering cells to the substrate. 16,17 Sheu et al 18 has also investigated the effect of PEO immobilization onto hydrophobic biomaterials to generate protein-resistant surfaces. Polysaccharides-coated surfaces are also known for their cell-resistant properties.…”