LIPSS on polymeric implant surfaces - a fabrication study

Abstract Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) offer the potential to engineer cell adhesion, cell orientation, and cell density on implant surfaces through periodic structures on the nanometer and micrometer scale. Due to their straightforward fabrication on metal surfaces, they provide an essential tool for optimizing implants according to their intended use. However, these types of structures can only be produced on a limited amount of polymers. Within this study, methods of implementing LIPSS on polymer films are investigated using manufacturing processes established in biomedical engineering. For this purpose, a polymer possessing USP class VI certification and ISO 10993 proven biocompatibility is used. The presented processes are easy to implement and can contribute significantly to the implementation of surface active structures like LIPSS on medical devices and commercial implants.