PHEMA-based thin hydrogel films for biomedical applications

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) based thin coatings were electro-synthesized by cyclic voltammetry on Au-coated quartz crystal surfaces to study different solid-liquid interfacial processes. By varying the electrochemical parameters and the presence or not of a crosslinking agent, films were obtained with thicknesses ranging from 5 to 90 nm. Surface characterization was performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and static contact angle measurements. Using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to investigate the relationship between the film thickness and the swelling behavior, it was found that these characteristics can be modulated by varying either the number of voltammetric cycles or the presence of the crosslinker. Cell adhesion and biocompatibility tests indicate that these film coatings were suitable for biomedical applications.