SURFACE MODIFICATION OF THE BIOMEDICAL POLYMER POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE)

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize modified sur faces of a biomedically important polymer, poly(ethylene terephthalate ). Several modification schemes were investigated and direct silanizat ion with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was found to be the optimum proc edure, resulting in an aminated surface. Surface coverage of up to 100 % was achieved with retention of the polymeric structural integrity. F urther activation of the silanized surface was accomplished with two c ross-linkers, glutaraldehyde and sebacoyl chloride. A simple biomolecu le, L-cysteine, was successfully immobilized onto a surface pre-treate d with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde, with a coverag e of 42%.