Mahmood M., Fejleh P.M., Ishihara H., Karmakar A.
UALR, US
Keywords: osteobalsts, plasma discharge, polyurethane polymers
It was determined that polyurethane polymers have the potential to be valuable biomaterials. Some major problems with this material involve its low biocompatibility and its inability to induce cellular adhesion and proliferation on its surface, leading to reduced integration in the host osseous system. The efficiency of osteoblast growth on plasma treated polyurethane polymers was tested using separate treatments of nitrogen and oxygen plasma. Bone cells (MC3T3) were cultured on petri dishes coated with a thin film of polyurethane polymer and then plasma treated with either nitrogen or oxygen plasma for three different times for 7 days in comparison to the control samples. This plasma exposure allowed for a greater cease of osteoblast growth than in untreated polymers due to surface roughening at the nanoscale level in a way conducive to osteoblast growth and attachment of additional functional groups to the polymer. Cellular proliferation was analyzed and better proliferation rate was found in the cells grown on the dishes treated for fifteen minutes with nitrogen or oxygen rather than the control samples. Furthermore, it was determined that oxygen plasma treatment is superior to nitrogen plasma treatment. This study indicated that implants coated with plasma treated polymers, particularly those treated with oxygen and nitrogen plasma, can become a reality sometime in the near future
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 3, Nanotechnology 2010: Bio Sensors, Instruments, Medical, Environment and Energy
Published: June 21, 2010
Pages: 214 - 217
Industry sector: Medical & Biotech
Topic: Biomaterials
ISBN: 978-1-4398-3415-2