Surface modification of electrospun poly-(l-lactic) acid scaffolds by reactive magnetron sputtering.

In this study, we modified the surface of bioresorbable electrospun poly-(l-lactic) acid (PLLA) scaffolds by reactive magnetron sputtering of a titanium target under a nitrogen atmosphere. We examined the influence of the plasma treatment time on the structure and properties of electrospun PLLA scaffolds using SEM, XRF, FTIR, XRD, optical goniometry, and mechanical testing. It was observed that the coating formed did not change physicomechanical properties of electrospun PLLA scaffolds and simultaneously, increased their hydrophilicity. No adverse tissue reaction up to 3 months after subcutaneous implantation of the modified scaffolds was detected in in-vivo rat model. The rate of scaffold replacement by the recipient tissue in-vivo was observed to depend on the plasma treatment time.

[Effect of radio frequency discharge plasma on surface properties and biocompatibility of polycaprolactone matrices].

Surface modification of bioresorbable polymer material (polycaprolactone, PCL) with abnormal glow discharge, initiated during radio-frequency magnetron sputtering of a hydroxyapatite target was investigated. Plasma treatment resulted in an increase of surface roughness of PCL, crystallite size, the surface free energy and hydrophilicity. Increased treatment time (30, 60, 150 seconds) provoked the polymer surface saturation with the sputtering target ions (calcium, phosphorus). The assessment of plasma exposure of PCL surface on bone marrow multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells behavior (BM MSCs) has been performed. Modification of the polymer surface with the abnormal glow discharge stimulated adhesion and subsequent proliferation of BM MSCs; thus, maximum values were achieved with the surface treatment for 60 s. This type of plasma modification did not affect cell viability (apoptosis, necrosis). Thus, the surface modification with abnormal glow discharge, initiated during radio-frequency magnetron sputtering of a hydroxyapatite target, appear to be a promising method of surface modification of bioresorbable polymer material (PCL) for tissue engineering.

The release of nickel from nickel-titanium (NiTi) is strongly reduced by a sub-micrometer thin layer of calcium phosphate deposited by rf-magnetron sputtering.

Thin calcium phosphate coatings were deposited on NiTi substrates (plates) by rf-magnetron sputtering. The release of nickel upon immersion in water or in saline solution (0.9% NaCl in water) was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for 42 days. The coating was analyzed before and after immersion by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). After an initial burst during the first 7 days that was observed for all samples, the rate of nickel release decreased 0.4-0.5 ng cm(-2) d(-1) for a 0.5 mum-thick calcium phosphate coating (deposited at 290 W). This was much less than the release from uncoated NiTi (3.4-4.4 ng cm(-2) d(-1)). Notably, the nickel release rate was not significantly different in pure water and in aqueous saline solution.

[Thin calcium-phosphate coatings produced by high frequency magnetron sputtering and prospects for their use in biomedical engineering].

Thin calcium-phosphate coatings with thickness less than 2.7 m were prepared by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering technique on the surfaces of pure titanium, titanium alloy Ti6A14V and stainless ASTM 316. Results of scanning electron microscopy showed that all coatings were dense and poreless and did not have any visible defects or microcracks. Rutherford backscattering (RBS) revealed a prepared coating consisting only of calcium 33.6 (1.6 at%, phosphorous 16.5 (1.5 at%, and oxygen 48.6 (1.2 at%. The concentration of each above-mentioned element through the coating was almost constant. The physicomechanical properties of the prepared coatings were investigated using a nanoindentation technique. The values of nano-hardness and Young's modulus calculated on the basis of the obtained data were 10 GPa and 113 GPa, respectively. These values were higher than that of non-coated substrates, except titanium alloy due to the sputtering mechanism. It was found that the coating with a thickness less than 1.6 ?m possessed more adhesion strength than coatings with greater value of thickness. However, we suggest that all coatings have great cohesive resistance that does not depend on the coating thickness.