title: The surface composition of commercial polyester arterial prostheses--an XPS study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Unit, St. François d'Assise Hospital, Quebec City, Canada.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Paynter
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Guidoin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000592:standards*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D011091:Polyesters
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters