Currently, sterilization methods are not universal, which implies the development of innovative processes. Electric discharge in atmospheric pressure (plasma discharge) is one of the way that seems both interesting and attractive to be explored in the field of sterilization of plastic materials for medical use. Indeed; plasma discharge combines altogether fast sterilization process with low cost and a non toxic method applicable to thermo sensitive materials. One point that must be verified is that the sterilization process does not modify the surface nor the structure of the re-usable medical devices in order to preserve their functionality. Hence, the impact of the treatment of plasma discharge on biomaterials seems less important than the one of other sterilization methods. Our goal is to study the stability of polymer materials such as polyurethane, very much used in biomedical field, after a plasma discharge sterilization, already developed and optimized by the Laboratoire des Gaz et des Plasmas (Orsay, France). Those polymers are often used for the manufacturing of medical systems (cardiac assist devices, pacemakers, catheters, endoscopes, endotracheal and oxygenation tubes, ...) because of their good mechanical, physical, chemical and biocompatible properties. In this study, we have been interested in the possible modifications of Pellethane®-based tubes treated by plasma discharge. Those modifications can appear in two levels : on the properties of the material and on its composition. That is why different analytical techniques have been used, such as DSC, ATG, GPC for the bulk characterization as well as FTIR-ATR, mouillability measurements, SEM and optical microscopy for the surface characterization. Moreover, the variation of the composition has been studied by RP-HPLC in order to evaluate the presence of extractibles and their possible diffusion, which is an important point towards their possible cytotoxicity. At last, we have evaluated the impact of the different physico-chemical properties on abacterial strain adhesion (Staphylococcus aureus), very much involved in nosocomial infections.
