SURFACE MODIFICATION OF POLY(ARYL ETHER ETHER KETONE) (PEEK) FILM BY COVALENT COUPLING OF AMINES AND AMINO-ACIDS THROUGH A SPACER ARM

Using the wet-chemistry technique, we selectively reduced the surface of the PEEK film (PEEK-OH), and covalently fixed hexamethylene diisocy anate by addition onto the hydroxyl functions. The resulting PEEK-NCO film displayed free isocya nate termini, the basic hydrolysis of which gave the PEEK-NH2 film in 85% extent of derivatization. The PEEK-NCO film reacted with trifluoroethylamine in toluene, trifluoroethylamine in PBS buffer, GABA, and lysine in PBS buffer to furnish, respectively , the PEEK-CF3(A), PEEK-CF3(B), PEEK-CO2H, and PEEK(NH2)CO2H films in 80%, 45%, 30%, and 25% extents of derivatization, as determined from t he F/C and N/C atomic ratios recorded in the corresponding XPS spectra . The surface reactivity of the PEEK-NH2 and PEEK-NCO films was assaye d by coupling with appropriate H-3 labels followed by liquid scintilla tion counting of the sample-associated radioactivity. The PEEK-NH2, PE EK-CO2H, and PEEK-(NH2)CO2H films were used as substrates for the cult ivation of CaCo2 epithelial cells; the presence of surface amine and c arboxyl functions significantly improves the cellular adhesion and gro wth. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.