Abstract
The combination of shape memory effect and superelasticity with good biocompatibility makes the nickel – titanium shape memory implant alloy especially suitable for medical applications. One of the main problems of using Nitinol has been surface-induced thrombus formation, which is initiated by the adsorption of certain plasma proteins. The purpose of this study is to improve the biocompatibility of Nitinol for surgical implant applications. A plasma-polymerised tetraglyme coating has been prepared on the surface of Nitinol under ECR cold plasma conditions. Based on high resolution XPS and ATR-FTIR spectral analysis, this coating is a thin poly (ethylene glycol)-like film and built up mainly of – CH2 – CH2 – O – linkages in surfaces. Human plasma protein is adsorbed on to Nitinol and then evaluated by SEM; the surfaces are particularly effective in preventing protein adsorption.
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