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In this work, poly-ε-caprolactone samples are modified by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet in pure argon and argon/water vapour mixtures. In a first part of the paper, the chemical species present in the plasma jet are identified by optical emission spectroscopy and it was found that plasmas generated in argon/0.05 % water vapour mixtures show the highest emission intensity of OH (A-X) at 308 nm. In a subsequent section, plasma jet surface treatments in argon and argon/water vapour mixtures have been investigated using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The polymer samples modified with the plasma jet show a significant decrease in water contact angle due to the incorporation of oxygen-containing groups, such as C-O, C=O and O-C=O. The most efficient oxygen inclusion was however found when 0.05 % of water vapour is added to the argon feeding gas, which correlates with the highest intensity of OH (X) radicals. By optimizing the OH (X) radical yield in the plasma jet, the highest polymer modification efficiency can thus be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In biomaterial research, great attention has focussed on the immobilization of biomolecules with the aim to increase cell-adhesive properties of materials. Many different strategies can be applied. In previously published work, our group focussed on the treatment of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) films by an Ar-plasma, followed by the grafting of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate (AEMA) under UV-irradiation. The functional groups introduced, enabled the subsequent covalent immobilisation of gelatin. The obtained coating was finally applied for the physisorption of fibronectin. The successful PCL surface functionalization was preliminary confirmed using XPS, wettability studies, AFM and SEM. In the present article, we report on an in-depth characterization of the materials developed using ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis. The homogeneous AEMA grafting and the subsequent protein coating steps could be confirmed by both XPS and ToF-SIMS. Using ToF-SIMS, it was possible to demonstrate the presence of polymethacrylates on the surface. From peak deconvoluted XPS results (C- and N-peak), the presence of proteins could be confirmed. Using ToF-SIMS, different positive ions, correlating to specific amino-acids could be identified. Importantly, the gelatin and the fibronectin coatings could be qualitatively distinguished. Interestingly for biomedical applications, ethylene oxide sterilization did not affect the surface chemical composition. This research clearly demonstrates the complementarities of XPS and ToF-SIMS in biomedical surface modification research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the modification of cotton fabrics using a low pressure DC glow discharge obtained in air. The influence of different operating parameters such as treatment time, discharge power and operating pressure on the chemical and physical properties of the cotton fabrics is studied in detail. Surface analysis and characterization of the plasma-treated cotton fabrics is performed using vertical wicking experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and weight loss measurements. The cotton fabrics show a significant increase in wicking behaviour; an effect which increases with increasing treatment time, increasing discharge power and increasing pressure. Results also show that low pressure DC glow treatment leads to surface erosion of the cellulose fibres, accompanied by an incorporation of oxygen-containing groups (C–O, C=O, O–C–O and O–C=O) on the cotton fibres. The DC glow treatment has thus the potential to influence not only the chemical but also the physical properties of cotton fabrics and this without the use of water or chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating in different atmospheres (air, nitrogen, helium and argon) and at medium pressure is employed to modify the surface properties of polylactic acid (PLA). Chemical and physical changes on the plasma-treated surfaces are examined using contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Results show that the discharge gas can have a significant influence on the chemical composition of the PLA surfaces: air and argon plasmas introduce oxygen-containing groups, while nitrogen discharges add nitrogen groups to the PLA surface. Quite surprisingly, also helium plasmas incorporate a small amount of nitrogen-containing functionalities: this observation can however be explained by the fact that the helium discharge operates in the glow mode. In the near future, it will be examined whether the performed plasma treatments can enhance PLA cell attachment and proliferation, which might open the door to many interesting biomedical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is well known that helium plasmas can successfully alter the surface properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the influence of humid (atmospheric) air exposure between successive helium plasma treatment steps has not been previously examined. In this work, PET foils are treated in successive short treatment steps of 5s with a DBD operating in helium at medium pressure (5.0kPa). Between every plasma treatment step, the samples are either kept in the plasma chamber at 5.0kPa under helium atmosphere or are exposed to humid air at atmospheric pressure. The plasma-treated samples are examined using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results clearly show that exposure to humid air between successive helium plasma treatment steps leads to a larger decrease in water contact angle and a more pronounced oxygen incorporation. XPS results have shown that during each helium plasma treatment, O–C═O groups are introduced on the PET surfaces. However, when the samples are exposed to humid air between plasma treatments, also C–O groups are created on the PET surfaces. These C–O groups are mainly introduced during exposure to humid air: every helium plasma treatment creates surface radicals, which can in turn react with oxygen species present in the atmosphere during subsequent humid air exposure, leading to the incorporation of C–O groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]