Biomedical aspects of ion bombardment of polyethylene

Press-moulded ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) samples were subjected to ion bombardment and effects of the modification studied. Helium, nitrogen, argon and silver ions of energy 65-150 keV and fluences in the range of 1 × 1014 to 3 × 1016/cm2 were applied. The consequences of the modification were studied with FT-IR, Raman and AFM techniques, contact angle measurements, bacteriostaticity and thrombogeneity tests. Surface layer oxidation, graphitization and changes to the surface geometry lead to increase of the surface energy. Modified surface exhibits bacteriostatic properties particularly for higher ion fluences. Aggregation of blood platelets on polymer surface subjected to ion bombardment is limited.