Plasma-based surface modification has been used as a method to impart specific surface properties onto medical devices. In this work, plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) coatings were deposited on flat, stent-like substrates using pulsed-DC plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and evaluated as anti-biofouling coatings to inhibit or promote the accumulation of specific cells on the surface. Coatings with differing chemical properties were deposited on 316 L stainless steel foil by varying the settings used for the plasma polymerization process (applied voltage and current). Organosilicon polymer-like (OrgSi) coatings, prepared with an applied voltage of 1000 V, presented an average water contact angle of 97° and Raman peaks associated with C–H stretching. Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) coatings, prepared with an applied voltage of 1500 V, showed a water contact angle of 75° and Raman peaks in the C-C stretching region. The cellular response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs) to the two different coated stent-like materials revealed a reduction in HCASMC cell adhesion and proliferation across the OrgSi coating in comparison to uncoated 316 L SS foil. These results suggest that modulation of plasma polymerization conditions in pulsed-DC PECVD results in distinct drug-free coating chemistries that selectively suppress smooth muscle cell adhesion and proliferation through a passive coating.
Ellis-Terrell et al. (Fri,) studied this question.