Plasma protein adsorption and platelet adhesion onto comb-like PEO gradient surfaces

Comb-like polyethylene oxide (PEO) surfaces were prepared on low-density polyethylene (PE). The comb-like PEO chain density was changed gradually along the sample lengths by corona discharge treatment with gradually increasing power and the following graft copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate macromers (PEO-MA). The macromers with different PEO repeat unit, 1, 5, and 10, were used. The prepared comb-like PEO gradient surfaces were characterized by water contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. All these measurements indicated that the PEO chains are grafted on the PE surface with gradually increasing density of PEO. Plasma protein adsorption and platelet adhesion on the PEO gradient surfaces decreased with increasing PEO chain length and surface density. As observed by scanning electron microscopy, PEO10-MA-grafted surface with high PEO density was very effective in preventing protein adsorption and platelet adhesion and did not activate the platelets.