Dielectric spectroscopy of plasma modified polysaccharides for medical applications

Polysaccharides are at present used in a wide range of medical applications, including the substitution of human tissues and surface coatings for "intelligent" drugs. Such intelligent surfaces regulate the gradual release of the active component of a drug in a controllable manner and regulate the permeation properties of the artificial membranes. The properties of polysaccharides are substantially influenced by their side groups. These are mostly of polar character and therefore their mobility may be investigated by means of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Dielectric spectra of modified hyaluronic acid exposed to the different conditions of plasma treatment are presented and analyzed in terms of conductivity and relaxation processes. Other features studied include relatively high charge storage capacity, discharge current sign reversal and charge storage over prolonged time periods.