Biocompatibility and bioactivity of plasma-treated biodegradable poly(butylene succinate)

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), a novel biodegradable aliphatic polyester with excellent processability and mechanical properties, is a promising substance for bone and cartilage repair. However, it typically suffers from insufficient biocompatibility and bioactivity after implantation into the human body. In this work, H2O or NH3 plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is conducted for the first time to modify the PBSu surface. Both the treated and control specimens are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy. The plasma treatments improve the hydrophilicity and roughness of PBSu significantly and the different PIII processes result in similar hydrophilicity and topography. C–OH and C–NH2 functional groups emerge on the PBSu surface after H2O and NH3 PIII, respectively. The biological results demonstrate that both osteoblast compatibility and apatite formability are enhanced after H2O and NH3 PIII. Furthermore, our results suggest that H2O PIII is more effective in rendering PBSu suitable for bone-replacement implants compared to NH3 PIII.