Does Cross‐Link Density of PEO‐Like Plasma Polymers Influence their Resistance to Adsorption of Fibrinogen?

Abstract

Abstract Thin films of PEO‐like plasma polymers with different extent of cross‐linking were deposited by plasma‐assisted vacuum thermal depolymerization of PEO. The films underwent considerable volume changes when in contact with water, i.e., they behaved as hydrogels. A Flory–Rehner theory of gels corrected for non‐Gaussian chain distribution was applied to derive the average molar mass between cross‐links. Films with up to ten monomeric units between cross‐links were fabricated, this number decreasing to one at enhanced rf power. Such changes of structure resulted in a three‐orders‐of‐magnitude increase of Young's modulus. Even highly cross‐linked films did not adsorb fibrinogen unless the concentration of the ether groups dropped below 65%. magnified image