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Controlling Surface Performance Characteristics of Medical Devices: A Critical Review of the Latest Industrial Techniques

Stevenson P.

Respiratory Drug Delivery 2016. Volume 1, 2016: 147-156.

Abstract:

Surface requirements for medical devices and drug delivery systems are becoming increasingly complex and more important to their efficiency and performance. Requirements on cleanliness standards are getting higher, surface chemistry more critical, and in many cases, devices are showing increased sensitivity to topographical and physical features on a nanoscale. For example, interaction of device materials with their environment (biocompatibility, drug interactions, or general atmosphere), actuation or application forces, durability and shelf life are all dictated by surface properties, chemical, physical, or both. Often, it is the outermost nanometers or few molecular layers which are of most interest. Presented here are applications of plasma processing, the latest in a range of techniques to control the regions of interest and their surface chemistry. Also presented are relevant surface analytical techniques and examples in pMDI and other devices.