Plasma modification of microporous polymer membranes for application in biomimetic dissolution studies

AAPS Open

Table 1 Contact angle of unprocessed and plasma treated membranes (n = 3)

Membrane	Pore size (μm)	Plasma treatment	Contact angle (θ)	Standard deviation
Polypropylene	0.22	None	105°	3
PES	0.10	None	0°, 40°^a	0, 2^a
PES	0.20	None	0°, 40°^a	0, 2^a
Nylon	0.10	None	0°	0
Nylon	0.20	None	0°	0
Polypropylene	0.22	Water	78°	4
PES	0.10	CF₄	125°, 125°^a	3, 3^a
PES	0.20	C₆F₁₄	110°, 110°^a	3, 3^a
PES	0.20	DCM	95°, 95°^a	2, 2^a
Nylon	0.10	CF₄	135°	2
Nylon	0.20	C₆F₁₄	120°	3
Nylon	0.20	DCM	116°	4

^aThe manufacturing process imparts asymmetric pore structure on PES membranes such that the largest pores occur on one surface of the membrane and the smallest pore openings occur on the other surface. Therefore, each surfaces can be expected to have differing properties. As a result, the water contact angle was evaluated on each surface of PES membranes to ensure treatments were consistent. Nylon and PP membranes have symmetric surface properties and the two surfaces are not distinguishable from one another