Ion beam modification of polymers for the application of medical devices

Polymeric materials have contributed significantly to the development and improvement of medical devices and systems. Various interactions take place between biomaterials and a body when polymeric biomaterials come into contact with a living organism. Ion implantation is a physicochemical surface modification process that results from the impingement of a high-energy ion beam. The chemical characteristics of a material surface are changed when ion implantation is performed. Therefore, alteration and manipulation of the thrombogenicity and control of the cell-attachment properties of a material surface are potentially possible and could be advantageous. Newly designed polymers using ion-beam modification methods have been studied to improve blood and tissue compatibility