TY - JOUR

T1 - In vitro studies of PEG thin films with different molecular weights deposited by MAPLE

A1 - Paun,Irina Alexandra

A1 - Ion,Valentin

A1 - Luculescu,Catalin-Romeo

A1 - Dinescu,Maria

A1 - Canulescu,Stela

A1 - Schou,Jørgen

AU - Paun,Irina Alexandra

AU - Ion,Valentin

AU - Luculescu,Catalin-Romeo

AU - Dinescu,Maria

AU - Canulescu,Stela

AU - Schou,Jørgen

PB - Springer

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) films were produced by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE). The possibility to tailor the properties of the films by means of polymer molecular weight was explored. The films of PEG of average molecular weights 400 Da, 1450 Da, and 10000 Da (PEG400, PEG1450, and PEG10000) were investigated in vitro, in media similar with those inside the body (phosphate buffer saline PBS with pH 7.4 and blood). The mass of the polymer did not change during this treatment, but the polymer molecular weight was found to strongly influence the films properties and their behavior in vitro. Thus, immersion in PBS induced swelling of the PEG films, which was more pronounced for PEG polymers of higher molecular weight. Prior to immersion in PBS, the PEG films of higher molecular weight were more hydrophilic, the water contact angles decreasing from ∼66 grd for PEG400 to ∼41 grd for PEG 1450 and to ∼15 grd for PEG10000. The same trend was observed during immersion of the PEG films in PBS. Before immersion in PBS, the refractive index of the films increased from ∼1.43 for PEG400 to ∼1.48 for PEG1450 and to ∼1.68 for PEG10000. During immersion in PBS the refractive index decreased gradually, but remained higher for the PEG molecules of higher mass. Finally, blood compatibility tests showed that the PEG films of higher molecular weight were most compatible with blood. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

AB - In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) films were produced by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE). The possibility to tailor the properties of the films by means of polymer molecular weight was explored. The films of PEG of average molecular weights 400 Da, 1450 Da, and 10000 Da (PEG400, PEG1450, and PEG10000) were investigated in vitro, in media similar with those inside the body (phosphate buffer saline PBS with pH 7.4 and blood). The mass of the polymer did not change during this treatment, but the polymer molecular weight was found to strongly influence the films properties and their behavior in vitro. Thus, immersion in PBS induced swelling of the PEG films, which was more pronounced for PEG polymers of higher molecular weight. Prior to immersion in PBS, the PEG films of higher molecular weight were more hydrophilic, the water contact angles decreasing from ∼66 grd for PEG400 to ∼41 grd for PEG 1450 and to ∼15 grd for PEG10000. The same trend was observed during immersion of the PEG films in PBS. Before immersion in PBS, the refractive index of the films increased from ∼1.43 for PEG400 to ∼1.48 for PEG1450 and to ∼1.68 for PEG10000. During immersion in PBS the refractive index decreased gradually, but remained higher for the PEG molecules of higher mass. Finally, blood compatibility tests showed that the PEG films of higher molecular weight were most compatible with blood. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

KW - Blood

KW - Contact angle

KW - Molecular weight

KW - Polyethylene glycols

KW - Polymers

KW - Refractive index

KW - Polymer films

U2 - 10.1007/s00339-012-7038-8

DO - 10.1007/s00339-012-7038-8

JO - Applied Physics A

JF - Applied Physics A

SN - 0947-8396

IS - 1

VL - 109

SP - 223

EP - 232

ER -