The Surface Composition of Commercial Polyester Arterial Prostheses - An XPS Study

The importance of identifying and quantifying the level of contaminants on the surface of biomaterials has long been recognized as a significant step towards predicting the biocompatibility and rate of healing of implantable devices. Yet suitable techniques for characterizing the surface chemistry of soft and flexible biomaterials with an uneven surface contour such as those used in vascular prostheses have only recently been made available. As a first step towards determining the effect of surface contaminants on the healing behaviour of vascular prostheses, this study used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to characterize the surface chemistry of 14 virgin polyester arterial prostheses from a wide variety of sources. Generally speaking, all surfaces appeared relatively clean. However, the results indicate that certain prostheses were not manufactured with Dacrorf-like fibres, and that some exhibit significantly carbon-rich surfaces. This suggests that the surface of these devices has been modified either by a hydrocarbon lubricant or by vapour phase hydrocarbons during fabrication.

Chemical nature of superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surfaces produced via a one-step process using fluoroalkyl-silane in a base medium

Various surface characterization techniques were used to study the modified surface chemistry of superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surfaces prepared by immersing the substrates in an aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide and fluoroalkyl-silane (FAS-17) molecules. The creation of a rough micronanostructure on the treated surfaces was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) confirmed the presence of low surface energy functional groups of fluorinated carbon on the superhydrophobic surfaces. IRRAS also revealed the presence of a large number of OH groups on the hydrophilic surfaces. A possible bonding mechanism of the FAS-17 molecules with the aluminum alloy surfaces has been suggested based on the IRRAS and XPS studies. The resulting surfaces demonstrated water contact angles as high as ~166° and contact angle hystereses as low as ~4.5°. A correlation between the contact angle, rms roughnesses, and the chemical nature of the surface has been elucidated.

Superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surfaces by a novel one-step process

A simple one-step process has been developed to render aluminum alloy surfaces superhydrophobic by immersing the aluminum alloy substrates in a solution containing NaOH and fluoroalkyl-silane (FAS-17) molecules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle measurements have been performed to characterize the morphological features, chemical composition and superhydrophobicity of the surfaces. The resulting surfaces provided a water contact angle as high as ∼162° and a contact angle hysteresis as low as ∼4°. The study indicates that it is possible to fabricate superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces easily and effectively without involving the traditional two-step processes.

Radioactive sputter cathodes for 32P plasma-based ion implantation

The development of clinical treatments involving the use of beta-emitting millimetric and sub-millimetric devices has been a continuing trend in nuclear medicine. Implanted a few nanometers below the surface of endovascular implants, seeds or beads, beta-emitting radioisotopes can be used in a variety of biomedical applications. Recently, new technologies have emerged to enable the rapid and efficient activation of such devices. A pulsed, coaxial electron cyclotron resonance plasma reactor was designed and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of plasma-based radioactive ion implantation (PBRII). It has been shown that such plasma reactors allow for the implantation of radioisotopes (32P) into biomedical devices with higher efficiencies than those obtained with conventional ion beams. Fragments containing radioactive atoms are produced in the implanter by means of a negatively biased solid sputter cathode that is inserted into an argon plasma. Dilute orthophosphoric acid solutions (H3(32)PO4) are used for the fabrication of flat sputter targets, since they offer a high radioisotope content. However, the aggregation of the radioactive solute into highly hygroscopic ring-like deposits rather than flat, thin radioactive films is observed on certain substrates. This article describes the effect of this nonuniform distribution of the radioisotopes on the efficiency of PBRII, and presents a technique which enables a better distribution of 32P by coating the substrates with iron. The iron coating is shown to enable optimal radioisotope sputtering rates, which are essential in 32P-PBRII for the efficient activation of millimetric biomedical devices such as stents or coils.

The surface composition of commercial polyester arterial prostheses--an XPS study

The importance of identifying and quantifying the level of contaminants on the surface of biomaterials has long been recognized as a significant step towards predicting the biocompatibility and rate of healing of implantable devices. Yet suitable techniques for characterizing the surface chemistry of soft and flexible biomaterials with an uneven surface contour such as those used in vascular prostheses have only recently been made available. As a first step towards determining the effect of surface contaminants on the healing behaviour of vascular prostheses, this study used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to characterize the surface chemistry of 14 virgin polyester arterial prostheses from a wide variety of sources. Generally speaking, all surfaces appeared relatively clean. However, the results indicate that certain prostheses were not manufactured with Dacron-like fibres, and that some exhibit significantly carbon-rich surfaces. This suggests that the surface of these devices has been modified either by a hydrocarbon lubricant or by vapour phase hydrocarbons during fabrication.

The hydrolytic stability of Mitrathane (a polyurethane urea)--an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study

The hydrolytic stability of microporous Mitrathane polyetherurethane urea vascular prostheses has been evaluated at pH 7 and pH 9, at 37 degrees, 60 degrees, and 80 degrees C for time periods of up to 968 days. Mechanical strength was evaluated using a hydrodynamic burst test and surface chemical changes by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The samples held at 80 degrees C showed the greatest mechanical strength loss which corresponded to the hydrolysis of the urethane groups. It was concluded that the gross in vivo surface degradation of Mitrathane prostheses, observed after six months, could not have been caused by simple chemical hydrolysis alone, as the polymer was found to be stable at 37 degrees C for at least 11 months.

An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of the external surface of explanted microporous polyurethane vascular prostheses

XPS has been used to examine the external surfaces of microporous polyurethane vascular prostheses implanted for up to 6 months in dogs. The phenomena of bilirubin absorption and physical degradation were investigated, using three different chemical washes to clean the prostheses. Very little evidence for chemical change was found, indicating a predominant role for the mechanical or biochemical ablation of degraded material.