Muscle cell adhesion on polytetrafluorethylene modified by UV irradiation

Fluorinated polymers exhibit several excellent properties such as high-temperature, stability, high chemical resistance, low water sorption and low dielectric constant. Fluoropolymers are widely used in space applications, protective coatings, microelectronics packaging and biotechnology. For some applications, the fluoropolymer surfaces are modified e.g. by exposing them to chemicals or plasma, by irradiation, corona discharge, flame or ozone treatment. In this way, the polymers acquire new surface properties (e.g. hydrophilicity, metal-free conductivity, bio-reactivity and biocompatibility) extending the field of their applications in microelectronics and as biomaterials In this work the adhesion of smooth muscle cells (SMC) was studied on PTFE irradiated by UV-light from a excimer-lamp in NH sub 3 atmosphere. The changes in biocompatibility are related to changes in physico-chemical properties induced by the irradiation. PTFE biocompatible with SMC is a promising material for preparation of blood vessel prostheses.