Argon/Oxygen Plasma Surface Modification of Biopolymers for Improvement of Wettability and Wear Resistance

Authors: Binnur Sagbas

Abstract:

Artificial joint replacements such as total knee and total hip prosthesis have been applied to the patients who affected by osteoarthritis. Although different material combinations are used for these joints, biopolymers are most commonly preferred materials especially for acetabular cup and tibial component of hip and knee joints respectively. The main limitation that shortens the service life of these prostheses is wear. Wear is complicated phenomena and it must be considered with friction and lubrication. In this study, micro wave (MW) induced argon+oxygen plasma surface modification were applied on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and vitamin E blended UHMWPE (VE-UHMWPE) biopolymer surfaces to improve surface wettability and wear resistance of the surfaces. Contact angel measurement method was used for determination of wettability. Ball-on-disc wear test was applied under 25% bovine serum lubrication conditions. The results show that surface wettability and wear resistance of both material samples were increased by plasma surface modification.

Keywords: Artificial joints, plasma surface modification, UHMWPE, vitamin E, wear.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1125559

References:

[1] D. Jackson, Biopolymers: Applications and Trends, William Andrew- Elsevier, USA, 2015, pp.291-405.
[2] S.M. Kurtz, UHMWPE Biomaterials Handbook, Second Edition, Elsevier Inc., Oxford, UK, pp.173-363, 2009.
[3] E. Oral, K.K. Wannomae, N.E. Hawkins, W.H. Harris, O.K. Muratoglu, “α-Tocopherol doped irradiated UHMWPE for high fatigue resistance and low wear”, Biomaterials, vol.25, pp.5515-5522, 2004.
[4] E. Oral, S. D. Christensen, A.S. Malhi, K.K. Wannomae, O.K. Muratoglu, “Wear resistance and mechanical properties of highly cross-linked, ultrahigh–molecular weight polyethylene doped with vitamin E”, The Journal of Arthroplasty, vol. 21, pp. 580-591, 2006.
[5] P.K. Chu, J.Y. Chen, L.P. Wang, N. Huang, “Plasma-surface modification of biomaterials”, Materials Science and Engineering R, vol. 36, pp.143–206, 2002.
[6] K. Ellinas,K. Tsougeni, P.S. Petrou, G.Boulousis, D. Tsoukleris, E. Pavlatou, et al., “Three-dimensional plasma micro–nanotextured cyclo-olefin-polymer surfaces for biomolecule immobilization and environmentally stable superhydrophobic and superoleophobic behavior”, Chemical Engineering Journal , Chemical Engineering Journal Vol.300, pp. 394–403, September 2016.
[7] E. Bormashenko, G. Whyman, V. Multanen, E. Shulzinger, G. Chaniel, “Physical mechanisms of interaction of cold plasma with polymer surfaces”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science vol.448, pp.175–179, February 2015.
[8] L.S. Barbarash, E.N.Bolbasov, L.V.Antonova, V.G.Matveeva, E.A.Velikanova, E.V. Shesterikov, et al., “Surface modification of poly-ε-caprolactone electro spun fibrous scaffolds using plasma discharge with sputter deposition of a titanium target”, Materials Letters, vol.171, pp.87–90, February 2016.
[9] F. Khelifa, S. Ershov, Y. Habibi, R. Snyders, P. Dubois, “Free-Radical-Induced Grafting from Plasma Polymer Surfaces”, Chemical Review, vol. 116, pp. 3975−4005, March 2016.
[10] H. Liu, Y. Pei, D. Xie, X. Deng, Y.X. Leng, Y. Jin, N. Huang, “Surface modification of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) by argon plasma”, Applied Surface Science, vol. 256, pp.3941–3945, January 2010.
[11] H. Liu, D. Xie, L. Qian, X. Deng, Y.X. Leng, N. Huang, “The mechanical properties of the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) modified by oxygen plasma”, Surface & Coatings Technology, vol. 205, pp. 2697–2701, 2011.
[12] M. Noeske, J. Degenhardt, S. Strudthoff, U. Lommatzsch, “Plasma jet treatment of five polymers at atmospheric pressure: surface modifications and the relevance for adhesion”, International Journal of Adhesion & Adhesives, vol. 24, pp.171–177, 2004.
[13] C.Y. Huang, J.Yi Wu, C.S. Tsai, K. H. Hsieh, J.T. Yeh, K. N. Chen, “Effects of argon plasma treatment on the adhesion property of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) textile”, Surface and Coatings Technology, vol.231, pp. 507–511, September 2013.
[14] P. Hojati-Talemi, L. Zou, M. Fabretto, R.D. Short, “Using Oxygen Plasma Treatment to Improve the Performance of Electrodes for Capacitive Water Deionization”, Electrochim. Acta, vol. 106, pp. 494−499, 2013
[15] Y. L. Cheng, Y.K. Wang, P. Chen, S.B. Deng, R. Ruan, “Non-Thermal Plasma Assisted Polymer Surface Modification and Synthesis: A Review”, International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, vol.7, pp. 1-9, 2014.
[16] S. Patra, S. Anjum, A.R. Ray, B. Gupta, “Effect of CO2 Plasma Exposure on Physico-Chemical Properties of Porous Polycaprolactone Scaffold”, Polymer Bulletin, pp. 1-6, 2015.
[17] B. Akhavan, K. Jarvis, P. Majewski, “Development of Oxidized Sulfur Polymer Films through a Combination of Plasma Polymerization and Oxidative Plasma Treatment”, Langmuir, vol. 30, pp.1444−1454, 2014.
[18] K. Sahagian, M. Larner, S. L. Kaplan, “Cold Gas Plasma in Surface Modification of Medical Plastics”, Presented at SPE Antec Medical Plastics Division, April 23, 2013, Ohio, Publication pending.
[19] B. Sagbas , "Effect of argon plasma surface modification on tribological behavior of biopolymers",Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 68 Iss: 4, pp. --, 2016, in press.
[20] ASTM G99-05(2010), Standard Test Method for Wear Testing with a Pin-on-Disk Apparatus.
[21] L. Ma, V.M. Rainforth, D. Sun, J.A. Wharton, R.J.K. Wood, “A ‘3-body’ abrasion wear study of bioceramics for total hip joint replacements”, Wear, 267, 2122–2131, 2009.
[22] T. Pylios, D. E. T. Shepherd, “Wear of medical grade silicone rubber against titanium and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene”, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, vol. 84B, pp. 520–523, 2008.
[23] B. Sagbas, Measurement, analysis and metrological evaluation of physical magnitudes and geometrical features that show alteration with regard to friction in hip prosthesis, PhD Thesis, Istanbul Turkey: Yildiz Technical University, 2013. 228 p.