The effect of sterilization processes on the bioadhesive properties and surface chemistry of a plasma-polymerized polyethylene glycol film: XPS characterization and L929 cell proliferation tests.

The influence of several sterilization processes (autoclaving, gamma-ray irradiation, ethylene oxide exposure and Ar/H(2) low pressure plasma treatment) on the surface chemistry and the bioadhesive properties of thin films (thickness approximately 20 nm) of plasma-polymerized diethylene glycol dimethyl ether has been studied. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and cell proliferation tests were used to characterize the surfaces. The XPS results revealed in all cases a change in the surface chemistry of the layer after sterilization, whereas the conservation of non-bioadhesive properties of the coating depends on the type of sterilization process.