Polymeric surface having reduced biomolecule adhesion to thermoplastic articles and methods of plasma treatment
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Publication Number
US-12195603-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A substrate is described having a treated contact surface comprising a carbon or silicon compound comprising from 1 to 30 atomic percent oxygen, from 0.1 to 30 atomic percent nitrogen, or both, each as measured by XPS. A method is also provided for treating a surface of a substrate. The method includes treating the surface with plasma comprising one or more non-polymerizing compounds. The treated contact surface has a biomolecule recovery percentage greater than the biomolecule recovery percentage of the surface prior to treatment according to the method.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to treating a surface with a conditioning plasma and a conversion plasma to form a converted surface having improved biomolecule recovery percentage. The conditioning treatment employs one or more non-polymerizing compounds in a conditioning plasma at a remote point, where the ratio of radiant energy density at the remote point to the radiant energy density at the brightest point of the conditioning plasma is less than 0.5.
After the conditioning treatment, the surface undergoes a second conversion treatment with a conversion plasma of water vapor at a remote point. The conversion treatment is also constrained by a radiant energy density ratio of less than 0.5, and the converted surface has a biomolecule recovery percentage greater than the biomolecule recovery percentage of the surface prior to treatment according to the method.
The disclosed approach further supports thermoplastic surfaces and labware such as vessels, and characterizes surface chemistry using atomic percent measurements such as C, O, and N via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Related implementations describe surface conversion and conditioning in combination with protective or functional coating concepts, including PECVD-deposited SiOxCyHz or SiNxCyHz layers, SiOx barrier layers, and monolayer concepts involving zwitterionic and epoxy-modified bonding schemes on hydroxylated or SiOx-functionalized surfaces.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a two-step remote plasma treatment sequence: remote conditioning plasma using one or more non-polymerizing compounds followed by remote conversion plasma of water vapor, where each step is limited by a radiant energy density ratio of less than 0.5. The independent claim also requires that the converted surface has a biomolecule recovery percentage greater than the surface prior to treatment.
Two-stage remote plasma treatment sequence with radiant energy density ratio constraint
Employing a first conditioning treatment of the surface with a conditioning plasma of one or more non-polymerizing compounds at a remote point, where the ratio of the radiant energy density at the remote point to the radiant energy density at the brightest point of the conditioning plasma is less than 0.5, and employing a second conversion treatment of the surface with a conversion plasma of water vapor at a remote point, where the ratio of the radiant energy density at the remote point to the radiant energy density at the brightest point of the conversion plasma is less than 0.5.
Converted surface with increased biomolecule recovery percentage
Wherein the converted surface has a biomolecule recovery percentage greater than the biomolecule recovery percentage of the surface prior to treatment according to the method.
Together, the covered inventive features require remote, radiant-energy-density-constrained conditioning and water-vapor conversion plasma treatments and define success by an increased biomolecule recovery percentage on the converted surface.
Stated Advantages
The converted surface has a biomolecule recovery percentage greater than the biomolecule recovery percentage of the surface prior to treatment.
Low extractables/inorganics supported by GC-MS/LC-MS and ICP-MS characterization.
Surface modification evidence including grafted oxygen-containing moieties and altered surface hydrophilicity indicated by contact angle.
Documented Applications
Remote conversion plasma treatment for biomolecule-reducing labware, including improving protein/biomolecule recovery versus unconditioned, unconverted, conditioning-only, and direct plasma approaches.
Plasma-treated polymer labware characterization and performance, including biomolecule recovery on treated microplates and surface chemistry/inorganic extractables assessment for converted SiO2 microplates and plasma-grafted polypropylene surfaces.
Assessment and characterization of hydrophilicity via water contact angle for treated surfaces.
Barrier coating and pH protective coating on COC/COP vials, and plasma treatments for grafting and protein-repellent performance.
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