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Projects / Programmes source: ARIS

Functionalization of polymer cardiovascular implants for optimal hemocompatibility

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Research activity

Code Science Field Subfield
7.00.00  Interdisciplinary research     

Code Science Field
T155  Technological sciences  Coatings and surface treatment 

Code Science Field
2.05  Engineering and Technology  Materials engineering 
Keywords
sulphur-containing plasma, plasma diagnostics, polymer surface modification, hemocompatibility
Evaluation (rules)
source: COBISS
Evaluation of bibliographic research performance indicators according to ARIS methodology
Citations Citations for bibliographic records in COBIB.SI that are linked to records in citation databases
source: WoS source: Scopus source: COBISS
Researchers (13)
no. Code Name and surname Research area Role Period No. of publications
1.  01694  Zlatko Bele  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
2.  26476  PhD Aleksander Drenik  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2015  0 
3.  04423  PhD Marta Klanjšek Gunde  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
4.  15703  PhD Janez Kovač  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
5.  32159  PhD Martina Modic  Medical sciences  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
6.  10429  PhD Miran Mozetič  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
7.  19268  PhD Zdenka Peršin Fratnik  Materials science and technology  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
8.  33326  PhD Gregor Primc  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2015  0 
9.  34451  PhD Nina Recek  Biotechnology  Doctoral student  2014 - 2017  0 
10.  07814  PhD Karin Stana Kleinschek  Textile and leather  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
11.  01718  PhD Iztok Šorli  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
12.  20048  PhD Alenka Vesel  Electronic components and technologies  Head  2014 - 2017  0 
13.  31618  PhD Rok Zaplotnik  Electronic components and technologies  Researcher  2014 - 2017  0 
Organisations (4)
no. Code Research organisation City Registration number No. of publications
1.  0104  National Institute of Chemistry  Ljubljana  5051592000  10 
2.  0106  Jožef Stefan Institute  Ljubljana  5051606000  18 
3.  0341  MIKROIKS, microelectronics engineering, consulting and service  Ljubljana  5286646  0 
4.  0795  University ob Maribor, Faculty of mechanical engineering  Maribor  5089638010  2 
Abstract
Interaction between highly non-equilibrium gaseous medium rich in neutral reactive radicals and selected polymers will be studied in order to improve biocompatibility of materials currently used for synthesizing artificial blood vessels. Sulphur-containing gases such as SO2 and H2S (or their mixtures with argon, oxygen or hydrogen) will be transformed into the state of cold weakly-ionized highly-dissociated plasma using electrode-less low-pressure discharges powered either with radiofrequency or microwave generators. Both glowing plasma and flowing afterglows will be used in order to functionalize polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) materials with selected amount of sulphur-containing groups thus mimic anti-thrombogenic properties of heparin, the material currently used for coating commercial artificial blood vessels and polymeric vascular stents. Furthermore, synergistic effects of neutral radicals, positively charged ions and UV radiation will be studied in order to determine optimal parameters for nano-structuring of said materials upon plasma treatment. The combination of surface functional groups and rich surface morphology will prevent activation of blood platelets and cause immobilization of enzymes which otherwise cause modification of blood proteins, surface agglomeration and thus formation of a thrombus. Densities of selected reactive gaseous particles will be measured with electrical and catalytic probes as well as optical emission and absorption spectroscopies, and the concentration of radicals along flowing afterglow will be estimated theoretically by modelling taking into account both gas phase and surface reactions. Polymers will be treated at different fluxes or reactive gaseous particles and surface modifications will be determined using SEM, AFM, XPS and SIMS techniques. Correlations between parameters of non-equilibrium gaseous medium and surface functionalities as well as morphological changes will be determined and optimal parameters in terms of mimic heparin will be defined. Ageing effects upon storage will be elaborated to details. Selected samples will be incubated with platelet rich blood plasma and platelet activation will be studied by monitoring morphological changes upon interacting with treated polymers. Any cytotoxicity of functionalized materials will be determined using fibroblast cells while ability of endothelization will be studied using strict biological protocols. The research performed within the project will enable for critical estimation of the feasibility of this technique to substitute currently used coating of cardiovascular implants with heparin – the technique which often fails due to rather poor immobilization on inner walls of vascular grafts and thus desorption in real environment.
Significance for science
Scientific literature about sulfur-containing plasmas is very scarce. Our scientific paper is the first report on the application of H2S plasma for surface modification of polymer materials. It is also the first report on mechanisms of plasma interaction with the polymer surface and about reactions taking place on the surface. Furthermore, we also published the first report on reactive particles formed in the SO2 plasma and on the hysteresis that occur between transition of plasma from one discharge mode (so called E-mode) to another one (H-mode). A dissociation degree of the SO2 molecule and a density of reactive plasma species formed during dissociation depend on the mode. We have also showed, that SO2 plasma is a strong source of the UV light; therefore, there is a great possibility to use the SO2-plasma lamp instead of commercial UV lamps. This finding was also protected by a patent application.
Significance for the country
In addition to the important scientific contribution of Slovenian researchers to this rather unknown topic regarding sulphur plasmas and their possible applications for improving the biocompatibilty of polymer materials, the knowledge gained within the project can have a further influence on the development of more suitable polymeric medical implants in the future with fewer side effects which will improve the health of patients. Furthermore, another important outcome of the project is a patent application about a device for generation of the UV light by using SO2 plasma gas emission. This knowledge will enable development of a prototype of the SO2 lamp. Such UV light may be very effective in surface sterilization of materials, thus there is a possibility to market the UV lamp.
Most important scientific results Annual report 2014, 2015, final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results Annual report 2014, 2015, final report
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