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Development of novel tunable light scattering coating materials for fiber optic diffusers in photodynamic cancer therapy
Author(s) -
Kostanski L. Kris,
Pope Michael A.,
Hrymak Andrew N.,
Gallant Mark,
Whittington William L.,
Vesselov Leonid
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.29713
Subject(s) - materials science , coating , inert , polymer , photodynamic therapy , chemical engineering , surface modification , titanium dioxide , composite material , light scattering , particle size , laser , scattering , optics , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering
To homogenize light emitted from fiber optic diffusers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), novel coating materials with tunable properties were designed. A class VI medical grade UV‐curable acrylic resin for biomedical applications was used for the polymer matrix, and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) was added to the resin as a scattering agent. UV‐curability of coatings containing TiO 2 was significantly influenced by the grade and surface treatment of the TiO 2 studied. Despite using a free‐radical system without inert gas protection, all samples demonstrated considerable thermal postcuring. A novel TiO 2 surface treatment methodology was developed based on unsaturated alkoxyorganosilanes combined with unsaturated carboxylic acids for compatibilizing TiO 2 for use in the resin material studied. By adjusting the concentration of the surface‐modifying agent, the scattering efficiency and UV curability can be controlled by decreasing the effective particle size and enhancing the dispersibility of the powder filler within the resin. This modification will enable fine‐tuning of the effective size of TiO 2 particles to the wavelength of laser light to be scattered to maximize scattering efficiency in photodynamic cancer therapy and possibly also in other forms of cancer treatment (interstitial laser hyperthermia or interstitial laser photocoagulation). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009