Growth of Primary Human Osteoblasts on Plasma‐Treated and Nanodiamond‐Coated PTFE Polymer Foils. Issue 10 (2nd May 2018) - Kopova, Ivana
Abstract : Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is widely used for constructing tissue replacements, particularly clinically used vascular prostheses, and is also applied in dental and orthopedic surgery, thanks to its non‐toxicity, high chemical resistance, low surface energy and excellent thermal stability. We report here on a comparative study in which PTFE is modified with the use of DC argon plasma (8 W, 240 s) and is coated with hydrogenated or oxidized nanodiamonds (mean size 5 nm), with a view to achieving improved body acceptance of the bio‐inert pristine material. The surface morphology characterized by scanning electron microscopy reveals a microscale and nanoscale structuring of the PTFE foils with comparable roughness among all samples (analyzed by atomic force microscopy). The water contact angle remains in the highly hydrophobic range (above 100°). However, the proliferation and metabolic activity of primary human hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts (studied for up to 7 days) are significantly enhanced by the plasma and/or by hydrogenated nanodiamond treatment (rather than by oxidized nanodiamond treatment) of the PTFE foil. Abstract : Modification of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) foils by using argon plasma and/or by coating them with hydrogenated or oxidized nanodiamonds of detonation origin improves the proliferation and metabolic activity of primary human hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts, while the water contact angle remains in the highly hydrophobic range (above 100°). Interestingly, hydrogenated nanodiamonds generally promote better cellular behavior than oxidized nanodiamonds.