Sterilization influence on PET track membrane properties

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) track membrane (TM) has a great opportunity to use as a bio implant in ophthalmology's surgery due to its physical and chemical properties and biological comparability. Sterilization of medical implants can change its properties and can influence on regeneration process and success of surgical treatment. We researched influence on the PET track membrane of two sterilization methods wide used in medicine. The first sterilization method was steam sterilization. The second method was γ-irradiation of Co{60} radionuclide sterilization. The sterilization processes influence on the track membrane properties was assessed by surface topography analysis, IR Fourier spectroscopy, wettingangle and surface energy of TM surface measurement.