Name of Event: Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association (HCURA) Conference
Date of Presentation: 01/22/2022
Type of Presentation: Poster Presentation Virtual
Title: DBD Plasma-Induced Polymerization for Surface Functionalization
Abstract: Plasma polymerization is a novel, solvent-less method that can be used for the surface functionalization of biomedical devices for drug delivery and implantation. This study demonstrates how DBD plasma was used to successfully synthesize polystyrene (PS) without chemical treatment. The implications of this study suggest that plasma polymerization is a viable method that can be used for the polymerization of other polymers in surface treatments of medical devices. Recently, we demonstrated that non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma can be used to initiate radical based polymerization. DBD plasma, unlike other plasmas, is generated in normal atmospheric pressure via a simple device. DBD plasma is an energy-saving and faster approach for polymerization than other polymerization methods. Dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma machines functions to initiate polymerization of monomers in the absence of chemical, thermal, and electrochemical means of initiation. Under low pressures, a high voltage generates radiofrequency radiation. This nongaseous DBD polymerization method is simple and straightforward. The nongaseous plasma polymerization may be applied for polymerization of PS for various applications.
Date of Presentation: 01/22/2022
Type of Presentation: Poster Presentation Virtual
Title: DBD Plasma-Induced Polymerization for Surface Functionalization
Abstract: Plasma polymerization is a novel, solvent-less method that can be used for the surface functionalization of biomedical devices for drug delivery and implantation. This study demonstrates how DBD plasma was used to successfully synthesize polystyrene (PS) without chemical treatment. The implications of this study suggest that plasma polymerization is a viable method that can be used for the polymerization of other polymers in surface treatments of medical devices. Recently, we demonstrated that non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma can be used to initiate radical based polymerization. DBD plasma, unlike other plasmas, is generated in normal atmospheric pressure via a simple device. DBD plasma is an energy-saving and faster approach for polymerization than other polymerization methods. Dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma machines functions to initiate polymerization of monomers in the absence of chemical, thermal, and electrochemical means of initiation. Under low pressures, a high voltage generates radiofrequency radiation. This nongaseous DBD polymerization method is simple and straightforward. The nongaseous plasma polymerization may be applied for polymerization of PS for various applications.