Hydrophilic surfaces, enhancement plasma polymers

Infection has been reported to often occur when a biomaterial is implanted in a body or inserted in tubular organs as a catheter. Such infection seems to be a result of adhesion of infectious bacteria onto the biomaterial surface. If bacteria adhesion is similar to adhesion of other cells like fibroblasts, occurrence of infection through the material surface may be reduced by modifying the material surface so as to minimize cell adhesion. Such a surface can be obtained by surface grafting of water-soluble polymer chains. However, producing a hydrophilic biomaterial surface by plasma treatment only leads to enhanced cell adhesion as shown in Figure 10 (16). 

The benefits of atmospheric plasma surface treatment for metal surfaces have been well documented. Most metal surfaces are rendered highly hydrophilic and wettable with gas-phase approaches. Surface bonding of metal coatings is enhanced, as are polymer depositions. Surface sterilization and removal of microbial contaminations and biofilms from metal-based medical devices is common for biomedical applications and for metal blomaterials. Complex contoured metal geometries can be readily processed by three-dimensional plasma discharge devices. 

---