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Cold Plasma Reticulation of Shape Memory Embolic Tissue Scaffolds
Author(s) -
Nash Landon D.,
Docherty Nicole C.,
Monroe Mary Beth B.,
Ezell Kendal P.,
Carrow James K.,
Hasan Sayyeda M.,
Gaharwar Akhilesh K.,
Maitland Duncan J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201600268
Subject(s) - thrombogenicity , materials science , polyurethane , composite material , membrane , ultimate tensile strength , scanning electron microscope , permeability (electromagnetism) , elastomer , plasma , shape memory alloy , biomedical engineering , platelet , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , immunology , biology , physics , quantum mechanics
Polyurethane shape memory polymer (SMP) foams are proposed for use as thrombogenic scaffolds to improve the treatment of vascular defects, such as cerebral aneurysms. However, gas blown SMP foams inherently have membranes between pores, which can limit their performance as embolic tissue scaffolds. Reticulation, or the removal of membranes between adjacent foam pores, is advantageous for improving device performance by increasing blood permeability and cellular infiltration. This work characterizes the effects of cold gas plasma reticulation processes on bulk polyurethane SMP films and foams. Plasma‐induced changes on material properties are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, uniaxial tensile testing, goniometry, and free strain recovery experiments. Device specific performance is characterized in terms of permeability, platelet attachment, and cell–material interactions. Overall, plasma reticulated SMP scaffolds show promise as embolic tissue scaffolds due to increased bulk permeability, retained thrombogenicity, and favorable cell–material interactions.