Initiated CVD of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels: Synthesis, characterization and in-vitro biocompatibility

Abstract

Initiated (i)CVD, an all-dry, one-step surface polymerization technique, was used to synthesize thin film hydrogels of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies showed stoichiometric PHEMA films obtained by iCVD. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed a high glass transition temperature, indicative of high molecular mass polymer. In-vitro cell studies using adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) demonstrated the nontoxic nature and good cell adhesion properties of iCVD PHEMA films. ©2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim.