title: Atmospheric pressure plasma induced grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) onto silicone elastomers for controlling biological response.
abstract: This study investigates the role that surface functionalisation of silicone elastomer (SE) by atmospheric pressure plasma induced graft immobilisation of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) plays in the attendant biological response. SE is used in modern ophthalmic medical devices and samples of the material were initially plasma treated using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor (DBD) to introduce reactive oxygen functionalities, prior to in situ grafting of two molecular weights of PEGMA (MW 1000 Da: PEGMA(1000), MW 2000 Da: PEGMA(2000)). The variously processed surfaces were characterised by water contact angle analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy. Lens epithelial cells were then cultured on the PEGMA grafted SE surfaces. It was found that cells on the pristine surface were not well spread and had shrunken morphology. On the DBD pre-treated surfaces, the cells were well spread. On the PEGMA(1000) surface, the cells displayed evidence of shrinkage and were on the verge of detaching. Remarkably, on the PEGMA(2000) surface, no cell adhesion was detection. Bacterial adhesion to the surfaces was studied using Staphylococcus aureus NTC8325. There was no difference in the number of bacteria adhering to any of the surfaces studied.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, UK. ra.dsa@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Raechelle A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: D'Sa
authors.forename: Jog
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: M Ann S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meenan
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008970:Molecular Weight; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D058626:Plasma Gases; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008689:Methacrylates; D058626:Plasma Gases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; C524499:polyethylene glycol methacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols