Weakened foreign body response to medical polyureaurethane treated by plasma immersion ion implantation

摘要

Modem polyurethane elastomers are suitable materials for human implants. However, the immune system of an organism recognizes the polyurethane as a foreign body. A medical polyureaurethane, based on polyether, 2,4-toluenediisocyanate and aromatic diamine was treated by 20 keV nitrogen ions. The polyureaurethane surface was subsequently investigated by atomic force microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, wettability and surface energy analysis to observe the surface structure transformations associated with the ion implantation. The protein covalent attachment on the modified surface was observed. Endothelial cell attachment and proliferation showed preferences of the modified surface. Polyureaurethane samples were implanted into rats for 5 months. Histology data showed that the immune reaction to the modified polyureaurethane was weaker and the capsule wall is thinner for the modified polyureaurethane, than for the untreated polyureaurethane.