Non-Thermal Plasma Surface Modification of Biodegradable Polymers

Abstract

Biodegradable polymers are often used as packaging materials. However, these polymers can also play an important role in tissue engineering as so called scaffolds (i.e. threedimensional porous structures). The success of these biodegradable scaffolds strongly depends on the reaction of them with their surrounding biological environment. This reaction is mainly governed by the surface features of the scaffold and different approaches have already been tested to change the surface properties of biodegradable polymers. In particular, the research field on the use of non-thermal plasmas for a selective surface modification has known a steep rise. Therefore, this chapter will give an introductory and critical overview on recent achievements in plasma-assisted surface modification of biodegradable polymers. Firstly, we will discuss in short the most commonly biodegradable polymers. Secondly, we will go into more detail about surface modification by a nonthermal plasma and finally we will focus on some examples of plasma-treated biodegradable polymers.