Gas plasma etching of PEO/PBT segmented block copolymer films

A series of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEO/PBT) segmented block copolymer films was treated with a radio‐frequency carbon dioxide (CO2) or with argon (Ar) plasma. The effects of (preferential) etching on surface structure, topography, chemistry, and wettability were studied b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical materials research 2003-06, Vol.65A (4), p.417-428
Main Authors: Olde Riekerink, M. B., Claase, M. B., Engbers, G. H. M., Grijpma, D. W., Feijen, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
atomic force microscopy
Biocompatible Materials - chemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Bone Marrow Cells - cytology
bone-cell compatibility
Carbon Dioxide
Cell Adhesion
Cell Division
gas plasma treatment
Goats
Materials Testing
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
PEO/PBT block copolymers
polybutylene terephtalate
Polyesters - chemistry
Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry
polyethylene oxide
polymer surface modification
Spectrum Analysis
Surface Properties
Tissue Engineering
X-Rays
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Summary:A series of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEO/PBT) segmented block copolymer films was treated with a radio‐frequency carbon dioxide (CO2) or with argon (Ar) plasma. The effects of (preferential) etching on surface structure, topography, chemistry, and wettability were studied by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. In all cases, a granular‐type nanostructure was formed after prolonged CO2 plasma etching. Ar plasma etching generally did not lead to significant changes in surface structure. Regarding surface chemistry, CO2 plasma treatment caused surface oxidation and oxidative degradation of the films while Ar plasma etching resulted mainly in the preferential removal of PEO blocks. The wettability of all films significantly increased after plasma treatment because of the creation of polar functional groups at the surface. Preliminary goat bone‐marrow cell compatibility experiments have shown that all plasma‐treated PEO/PBT films induced a greatly enhanced cell adhesion and/or growth compared to untreated biomaterials. This improvement was attributed to changes in surface chemistry during plasma etching rather than to changes in surface structure. These results show that plasma‐treated PEO/PBT copolymers have a high potential as scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 65A: 417–428, 2003
ISSN:1549-3296
0021-9304
1552-4965
1097-4636
DOI:10.1002/jbm.a.10520