Durable plasma-mediated zwitterionic grafting on polymeric surfaces for implantable medical devices

Adverse body reactions to blood-contacting medical devices endanger patient safety and impair device functionality, with events invariably linked to nonspecific protein adsorption due to suboptimal material biocompatibility. To improve the safety and durability of such devices, herein we propose a strategy for introducing stable zwitterionic grafts onto polymeric surfaces via plasma functionalization. The resulting zwitterion-grafted substrates exhibit long-lasting superhydrophilicity, enabling antifouling and anti-thrombogenic properties. We demonstrate the successful modification of the surface elemental composition, morphology, and hydrophilicity, while retaining the underlying mechanical properties of the polymeric substrate. Furthermore, we optimise the fabrication process to ensure long-lasting modifications at least three months after fabrication. This strategy decreases fibrinogen adsorption by approximately 9-fold, and thrombosis by almost 75% when applied to a commercial polyurethane. Moreover, this process is universally applicable to a wide range of polymeric materials, even those with stable chemistry such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Poor material biocompatibility of implanted medical devices endangers patient safety and impairs device functionality. Here, durable zwitterion grafts attached onto polymeric surfaces via plasma functionalization lead to superhydrophilic materials for safer and more durable devices.