Generation of functionalized polymer nanolayer on implant surface via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD)

• iCVD was utilized to generate pGMA nanolayers on surfaces of titanium implants.
• GMA polymer nanolayers showed no cytotoxicity.
• GMA-coated implants displayed higher ALP activities and calcium depositions.
• GMA-coated fixtures showed good mechanical stabilities during implantation process.

Initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) was utilized to generate a 200 nm thick, uniform, functionalized polymer nanolayer comprised of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) on the surface of titanium implants as a means to improve cellular attachment. Dot-patterned GMA-coated specimens were prepared as well as fully coated specimens. In vitro cellular responses, including cell morphology, protein adsorption, cell proliferation assays, alkaline phosphate activity (ALP) assays, and calcium deposition assays were studied using adipose derived stem cells. The mechanical stability of the thin film was investigated by XPS and FE-SEM analysis of the GMA-coated implant after implantation to an extracted bone from a pig. The GMA-coated specimens displayed increased protein adsorption, higher alkaline phosphatase activities, and higher calcium deposition as compared to control sample with no cytotoxicity. Additionally, no defect was observed in the test of mechanical stability. Notably, dot-patterned GMA-coated samples displayed higher alkaline phosphatase activities than others. Functionalized polymer nanolayer deposition via iCVD is a flexible and robust technique capable of mass production of biocompatible layers. These properties make this technique very suitable for implant applications in a variety of ways.

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