Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Polymer Nanomaterials

Abstract

Polymeric materials have been vitally important in biomedical applications. To enhance the biocompatibility of implanted devices and to activate the process of bone tissue regeneration, surface modification and scaffold fabrication are employed, respectively. Polymeric nanomaterials with biofunctional groups can fulfill these purposes. Initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) with the advantages of conformality and solvent-free process was used to synthesize polymer coatings for nonfouling applications and scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Using iCVD technique, surface modification and fabrication of a three-dimensional scaffold were successfully achieved. In CHAPTER II, novel polyampholytic coatings for nonfouling applications were reported. More than 99% of bacteria were resisted by hydrogel coatings in bacteria adhesion tests, and no biofilm formed on the surfaces after 24-hr incubation. In CHAPTER III, antifouling effects of positively charged surfaces were investigated. It was demonstrated that positively charged surfaces promoted bacteria adhesion in short term but inhibited bacteria growth to form the biofilm. In CHAPTER IV, a polymeric scaffolds consisting of aligned structure and oriented apatite growth were fabricated. Biomimetic mineralization of nanotubes was achieved. The crystal from supersaturated HA solution was preferentially oriented with the c-axis parallel to the long axis of nanotubes.