title: Will ethylene oxide sterilization influence the application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite intrauterine devices?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Copper/low-density polyethylene (Cu/LDPE) nanocomposite intrauterine device (IUD) is an implanted medicinal device that must be sterilized before use. Sterilization processes act either chemically or physically, leading to a lethal change in the structure or function of organic macromolecules in microorganisms. Given the nature of their action, sterilization might also attack the macromolecules of polymers by the same mechanisms, resulting in changes in surface functional groups and in the internal structure of the polymer. If sterilization leads to changes in surface functional groups and in the internal structure of the LDPE matrix, which will influence the mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs, potential clinical application will be limited. Therefore, it is necessary to study the influence of ethylene oxide sterilization on the potential clinical application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The influence of ethylene oxide sterilization on the internal structure, surface functional groups, mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing and absorbance measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethylene oxide sterilization did not have any influence on the internal structure, surface functional groups, mechanical property and cupric ions release rate of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite intrauterine devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethylene oxide sterilization will not affect the potential application of novel Cu/LDPE nanocomposite IUDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China. xianpxian@163.com
authors.forename: Xianping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuizhou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Changhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003267:Contraception / Q000295:instrumentation; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper / Q000592:standards; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004202:Disinfectants; D003300:Copper; D005027:Ethylene Oxide