| AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Surface Modification of Materials by Plasmas for Medical Purposes Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session SM+AS+BI+PS-ThA |
| Session: | Plasma Processing of Biomaterials and Biological Systems |
| Presenter: | Cristina Canal, Technical University of Catalonia, Spain |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Large bone defects caused by trauma, osteoporotic fractures, infection and tumour or cysts resection pose a great clinical and socio economic problem. Bone grafting materials respond to the need generated by over 2 million bone grafting procedures that are performed every year worldwide. As an alternative to autografts or xenografts, different biomaterials have been proposed, yet with partial success since different aspects remain yet to be improved.
In this context, the use of low pressure (LP) and atmospheric pressure (AP) plasmas opens new opportunities in the field of bone biomaterials. It is the aim of this talk to provide an overview on the strategies undertaken in our group to enhance diverse features of bone biomaterials and to enhance bone therapies.
The examples discussed here include biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β ‐TCP) as the most clinically used calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics for bone regeneration. Some of the points of improvement include increasing their mechanical strength, or using them as local dosage forms for the delivery of drugs, to aid in different therapies, such as combating infection or fighting cancer.
For instance, we have investigated LP plasmas with the aim of expanding the use of biomimetic CaPs to load-bearing sites. Although composites have been defined, their performance is not yet optimal, possibly due to insufficient adhesion between the matrix and the reinforcing agent. Oxygen and argon plasmas have been employed in the surface modification of polylactide fibers to improve the adhesion at the interface between them and biomimetic CaPs with interesting results.
In a different approach we have focused on modulating drug delivery from bone biomaterials. Both AP and LP plasmas are of interest with views on different medical applications and in the design of advanced biomaterials with controlled drug release properties. Different strategies are considered with that aim, such as using either plasma functionalization with AP plasma jet to modulate the interactions of the drug with the CaP surface or employing LP plasma polymerization on CaP scaffolds as a strategy to control the drug release. Lastly, AP plasmas are in the limelight due to their wide potential in the medical field, and here we will discuss some recent findings for application in bone therapies and regeneration.
Acknowledgements
Spanish Government is acknowledged for support through Project MAT2012-38438-C03-01, co-funded by the EU through European Regional Development Funds, and Ramon y Cajal fellowship of CC. The European Commission is also acknowledged through funding in FP7/2007-2013 under the Reborne project (no. 241879).