Properties of PEEK-supported films of biological substances prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique
Year: 2016
Journal: Colloid Surf. A-Physicochem. Eng. Asp.
Authors: Jurak, M; Wiacek, AE; Terpilowski, K
In our studies the low-temperature plasma obtained from oxygen, argon, nitrogen was used to enhance polyetheretherketone PEEK adhesive properties and as "pre-deposition" before the main process which was deposition of layers of biologically active substances, e.g. phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), lauryl gallate (LG) and mixed layers (DPPC/LG) by means of the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Thus PEEK was used for creating biointerfaces with model membrane structures. Wettability of both unmodified and modified surfaces of the polymer as well as those covered with the films of biological substances was investigated by measurements of advancing and receding contact angles of water, formamide and diiodomethane. Then the values of the measured contact angles were used for determination of surface free energy and its components of the studied surfaces based on the theoretical models. The topography and roughness parameters were also estimated by optical profilometer. The results demonstrate that the appropriate plasma choice and the deposited film composition influence on wettability and thermodynamic parameters of the studied systems. The changes in the PEEK surface properties affect the interactions between the solid support and the membrane. The molecular packing density of the deposited film can be associated with the strength of adhesion and correlates with the surface energy and its component values. It is believed that plasma treatment will be a source of new information about PEEK surface mostly in the field of biomaterial engineering, adhesion of biomolecules as well as biocompatibility. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
