MW plasma polymer thin film synthesis using diglyme precursor

A polyethylene glycol (PEG like) macromolecular structured thin film on Ni/Ti (Nitinol) surface has been synthesised by a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition method at room temperatures of 298 K, using diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (CH3O(CH2CH2O)(2)CH3) as a precursor. A power with microwave frequency 2.45 GHz was applied for the ignition of the plasma, and Ar was used as the carrier gases. Based on atomic force microscopy studies, the smooth thin films on Nitinol substrates were formed, with highly amorphous polymer structures. Xray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that the presence of new functional groups on the modified Nitinol surfaces, mainly accumulate the same stoichiometric ratio of C and O with PEG, indicating that PEG like films were principal grown under the experimental condition. In vitro studies showed that platelet rich plasma adsorption on modified Nitinol surface were significantly reduced. The present study proposes that surface modification of PEG like films by plasma polymerisation changed the surface components of Nitinol and subsequently improved the biocompatibility.