Regulation of the biological properties of medical polymer materials with the use of a gas-discharge plasma and vacuum ultraviolet radiation

The mechanisms of the interaction of a gas-discharge plasma and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation with medical polymers were considered. Various techniques were proposed for the use of plasma-chemical and photochemical processes for enhancing the biocompatibility of medical polymers. The plasma-chemical and photochemical processes for the surface functionalization and regulation of the biological characteristics of medical polymers by the immobilization of proteins, biologically active compounds, and liquid-crystal biosensors were described. The relationships of the surface processes that occur in the VUV photolysis of polymers with the kinetics of protein adsorption and the adhesion of blood cell components were analyzed.