Surface Analysis of Titanium Coated Silicone Rubber Biological Implants

摘要

A wide variety of materials are used today in the fabrication of biomedical implants. Various plastics, ceramics, metals, and composites are found in dozens of applications as biomaterials. The biological interactions between the implant surfaces and the proteins and cells of the body sometimes cause problems such as inflammation, thrombosis, and encapsulation. Coating the implants with a biocompatible material such as titanium could alleviate these problems. In an effort to improve the biological compatibility of silicone rubber vascular grafts, thin layers of titanium were sputter deposited onto medical grade silicone rubber. The surfaces of two such samples were then characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), electron probe microanalysis (EPM), and ion microprobe mass analysis. (ERA citation 12:033207)