ORGANIC-SURFACE CHEMISTRY ON TITANIUM SURFACES VIA THIN-FILM DEPOSITION

In order to develop a synthetic strategy for the fine tuning of the in terfacial properties of titanium-based implants and implant parts, a t hin polymeric film was deposited from ethylene plasma on the surfaces of Ti foils. The intended aim was to further modify the adherent, dela mination-resistant organic coating using the techniques of surface mod ification of polymers to direct interfacial interactions at the metal foil-biological phase interface. In particular, air-plasma treatment a nd Ce(IV)-induced hydroxyethylmethacrylate grafting, two typical react ions of biomedical polymers surface chemistry, were used to improve ce ll adhesion or to impart cell resistance to the plasma-coated Ti. Resu lts indicate that a plasma-deposited thin polymeric film effectively c an act as a viable substrate for further surface chemical modification s and allow the application of a huge background of surface-modificati on polymers to metallic devices. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.