Aging of a medical device surface following cold plasma treatment: Influence of low molecular weight compounds on surface recovery
Résumé
The surface of medical devices is of great importance for biocompatibility. Surface properties can evolve with a material treatment, time, and storage conditions. In this work, poly(urethane) catheters sterilised by cold nitrogen plasma treatment, were subjected to air and temperature aging in order to evaluate the influence of humidity and temperature on surface recovery. The surface of catheters was analysed by contact angle measurements and XPS. Faster surface changes upon aging were observed at high temperature (45 °C) and relative humidity (90%). For the commercial poly(urethane) catheters analysed in this work, the importance of the nature and polymorphism of additives added to the polymer (lubricant, antioxidant) in the recovery process was demonstrated. Indeed, DSC and TSC showed that additive transitions (relaxation, melting...) could govern the aging process. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mots clés
polymorphism
morphology
high temperature
exposure
pressure
medical devices
recovery process
low molecular weight compounds
storage condition
aging process
plasma
surface changes
contact angle
polyurethane
additive
discharges
poly(urethane)
polymer aging
cold plasma treatment
influence of humidity and temperature
material treatment
nitrogen plasma treatment
surface recovery
temperature aging
sterilization
polypropylene
polydimethylsiloxane
1
4-butanediol
polymer-films
polymorphism