Platelet interactions with plasma-polymerized ethylene oxide and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone films and linear poly(ethylene oxide) layer)

Dimethyldichlorosilane (DDS)-treated glass (DDS-glass) was modified with either poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) films or poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PNVP) films by plasma polymerization. The thickness of the plasma polymerized films was varied between 40 and 700 nm. The results showed that the hydrophilic plasma polymerized PEO and PNVP films on DDS-glass did not prevent platelet adhesion and activation. The film thickness had only marginal influence on the prevention of platelet activation. In contrast, platelet adhesion was prevented on DDS-glass adsorbed with a PEO-containing block copolymer (Pluronic® F-108 surfactant) even at a calculated thickness of the PEO layer of less than 40 nm. This study shows that surface hydrophilization is not sufficient for prevention of platelet adhesion and activation. The contrasting results in platelet adhesion between cross-linked plasma polymers and linear PEO-containing block copolymers may be explained qualitatively by a steric repulsion mechanism that is achieved by the conformational freedom of the linear PEO chains interacting with water.