Dr. Mirko Nitschke, researcher
Dr. Stefan Gramm, researcher
Juliane Teichmann, PhD student

Low pressure plasma is a universal tool for polymer surface functionalization and structuring. The group aims to provide a variety of plasma-based techniques including ‘simple’ plasma treatment, 'grafting to' and 'grafting from' plasma activated surfaces, plasma immobilization of pre-deposited molecules, adsorption of charged macromolecules on plasma activated surfaces as well as plasma polymerization. Research activities are focused on structured stimuli-responsive coatings for biomedical purposes and on the surface functionalization of 3D scaffold structures.

Current activities

• Development of thermo-responsive cell culture carriers including handling and transfer systems
• Biomolecular functionalization of tissue engineering scaffolds made of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

• Nitschke, M.; Ricciardi, S.; Gramm, S.; Zschoche, St.; Herklotz, M.; Rivolo, P.; Werner, C.:
  Surface modification of cell culture carriersRoutes to anhydride functionalization of polystyrene. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 90 (2011) 41-47
• Gramm, S.; Teichmann, J.; Nitschke, M.; Gohs, U.; Eichhorn, K.-J.; Werner, C.:
  Electron beam immobilization of functionalized poly(vinylmethyl ether) thin films on polymer surfaces - Towards stimuli responsive coatings for biomedical purposes. eXPRESS Polymer Letters 5(2011) 970-976
• Lehmann, K.; Herklotz, M.; Espig, M.; Paumer, T.; Nitschke, M.; Werner, C.; Pompe, T.:
  A new approach to biofunctionalisation andmicropatterning of multi-well plates. Biomaterials 31 (2010) 8802-8809
• Welzel, P.; Nitschke, M.; Freudenberg, U.; Zieris, A.; Götze, T.; Valtink, M.; Engelmann, K.; Werner, C.:
  Polymer Hydrogels to Enable New Medical Therapies. In: Hydrogel Sensors and Actuators: Engineering and Technology, Gerlach, G.; Arndt, K.-F., ed. (Springer 2009) 6, 249-266
• Cordeiro, A. L.; Zschoche, St.; Janke, A.; Nitschke, M.; Werner, C.: Functionalization of poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces with maleic anhydride copolymer films. Langmuir 25 (2009) 1509-1517
• Cordeiro, A. L.; Nitschke, M.; Janke, A.; Helbig, R.; D'Souza, F.; Donnelly, G. T.; Willemsen, P. R.; Werner, C.:
  Fluorination of poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces by low pressure CF4 plasma - physicochemical and antifouling properties. eXPRESS Polymer Letters 3 (2009) 70-83
• Özyürek, Z.; Franke, K.; Nitschke, M.; Schulze, R.; Simon, F.; Eichhorn, K.-J.; Pompe, T.; Werner, C.; Voit, B.:
  Sulfated glyco-block copolymers with specific receptor and growth factor binding to support cell adhesion and proliferation. Biomaterials 30 (2009) 1026-1035