Abstract
Woven polyester tape has been suggested as a possible alternative biomaterial to metallic wires and braces used in periodontal, orthodontic and prosthodontic surgery.
Two innovative technologies, namely cleaning by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and surface modification using cold oxygen plasma, were performed on dental polyester tapes in order to improve their physico-chemical characteristics and biocompatibility. The physical, dimensional, and chemical properties of the tapes were measured before and after SFE and plasma treatments using various textile test methods, contact angle, ESCA, FTIR, DSC, and SEM techniques. The cytocompatibility of the tapes was evaluated before and after SFE and plasma treatments in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation in an in vitro direct contact assay with human gingival fibroblasts.
The SFE cleaning method was successful in removing most surface contaminants and bringing the residual amounts to levels similar to those observed on commercial polyester arterial prostheses. The oxygen plasma treatment induced chemical modifications, characterized by a 9% increase in surface oxygen in the form of C-0 and C=0 bonds. This modified surface was more hydrophilic, as indicated by contact angle measurements. Cell adhesion was surprisingly greater on the hydrophilic SFE treated tapes than on the hydrophilic plasma treated ones, and cell proliferation was improved significantly by both the SFE and plasma treatment processes.
In conclusion, the cytocompatibility of the tapes improved with both SFE and oxygen plasma treatments. The combination of both treatments, however, had no synergistic effect on cell growth and adhesion.