Effectiveness of Surface Treatment with Amine Plasma for Improving the Biocompatibility of Maxillofacial Plates

To date, no products have been presented for the surface treatment of metal plates used for repairing maxillofacial defects caused by trauma. Plasma surface treatment is a useful technique for chemically modifying the surfaces of biomaterials. Amine plasma-polymerization is an efficient way to prepare bioactive thin film polymers terminated with nitrogen-containing functional groups. The purpose of this study was to investigate the improvement in biocompatibility of titanium (Ti) plates treated with amine plasma-polymerization, and analyze their surfaces characteristics. To compare biocompatibility levels, in vitro test and animal study were performed using an amine plasma-polymerized Ti plate and an untreated Ti plate. After amine plasma-polymerization, the hydrophilicity of the Ti surface was remarkably improved. Biocompatibility was also improved for the Ti plates treated with amine plasma. The clinical application of this technique will not only shorten the time required for osseointegration, but will also improve the regeneration of bone.