Continued acceleration of R&D in the biological science areas rely on advancing technologies in semi-invasive diagnostics, regenerative medicine, cellular, and bio-molecular isolation.
Gas plasma technology is commonly used to precision clean and activate, decontaminate surfaces, promote adhesion of functional bio-molecules and in conjunction with specific chemical vapors sterilize in-vivo and in-vitro medical devices.
Surfaces that come in contact with biological environments such as the human body can be engineered to elicit specific biological responses, e.g. anti-fouling, anti-microbial, anti-thrombogenic etc. This can be achieved by direct use of plasma produced surfaces. Alternately plasma can be used to tailor surface chemistries with specific functional groups to act as a defined bio-molecule tie layer.
Products such as interocular lenses tissue scaffolds, immunoassays, cell culture media, filtration and analyte delivery devices require plasma surface modification to enable selective bio-molecular immobilization and to avoid surface effects due to miniaturization.
Newly developed micro-fluidic are significantly enhanced with plasma treatment. Micro-channels on clinical diagnostic devices are made “wettable” to fluids improving both flow and dispensing.
