title: A nanoscale adhesion layer to promote cell attachment on PEEK.
abstract: A novel adhesion layer is described that enables covalent attachment of cell adherent molecules to the surfaces of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) PEEK. Vapor of zirconium or titanium tetra(tert-butoxides) can be deposited on the surface of PET or PEEK at room temperature at a pressure of ca. 10(-3) mm Hg. The thickness of this layer can be controlled by exposure time and monitored by quartz crystal microgravimetry on a surrogate substrate. Controlled thermolysis of the deposited alkoxide gives the metal a mixed oxide-alkoxide layer, which reacts with solutions of phosphonic acids to attach monolayer films of phosphonates, several of which are shown to significantly enhance cell growth compared with the untreated surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: T Joseph
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dennes
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D001577:Benzophenones; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D007659:Ketones / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols