A comparison of plasma and electron beam-sterilization of PU catheters
Résumé
Polyurethane (PU) catheters made of Pellethane 2363-80AE® were treated in two different ways: a new treatment with low temperature plasma that could be used to decontaminate reusable polymer devices in hospitals, and an e-beam (EB) irradiation. Polymer structure and bulk properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Although PU was strongly modified by the e-beam irradiation leading to branching of polymer chains, it had no or little impact on the thermo-mechanical properties of the catheters and on the hard/soft segment organization of PU. For plasma-treated samples, no modification in the polymer bulk was observed, confirming that plasma treatment might be considered as an alternative to e-beam irradiation. The analysis of surface modifications showed an evolution of superficial topology and chemical composition (grafting of oxygen and nitrogen species) of the catheters after treatment, with a more polar and hydrophilic surface. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mots clés
ftir
surface modification
chemical compositions
low temperature plasmas
polymer devices
hydrophilic surfaces
thermomechanical properties
polymer chains
bulk properties
plasma treatment
plasma
nitrogen species
polyurethane
additive
catheter
contact angle measurements
eb irradiation
after-treatment
e-beam irradiation
pellethane
polymer bulk
polymer structure
spectroscopic analysis
mechanical-properties
glass-transition
polyurethane block-copolymers
multiple endothermic behavior
biodegradable polyurethanes
segmented polyurethanes
model polyurethanes
molecular-stability
ftir