Surface Energy Modification of Polymeric Substrates for Biomedical Applications by Atmospheric Pressure Non-thermal Plasma Jet

Atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasmas have become increasingly prevalent within many research fields and industrial applications due to their range of reactive gas species produced. In the present study, plasma surface energy modification of various polymeric substrates was performed using an atmospheric pressure non-thermal radiofrequency (RF) plasma jet with helium-oxygen-air gas mixture. The surface energy measurements were performed by a research-grade VCA Optima Goniometer and using drop shape analysis method. Different testing liquids such as deionized water, formamide, xylene, dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol have been used. By controlling the plasma processes the surface energy of the polymers can be changed. In this work, the effect of RF plasma power and the distance between sample and nozzle were studied. The results show that atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma can be effectively used to increase the surface energy of the polymeric materials and thus enhance their biomedical applications.

*Work supported by U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), Texas Research and Development Fund and NSF-Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program.