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Polymeric biomaterials are being widely used for the treatment of various traumata, diseases and defects in human beings due to ease in their synthesis. As biomaterials have direct interaction with the extracellular environment in the biological world, biocompatibility is a topic of great significance. The introduction or enhancement of biocompatibility in certain polymers is still a challenge to overcome. Polymer biocompatibility can be controlled by surface modification Various physical and chemical methods (e.g., chemical and plasma treatment, ion implantation, and ultraviolet irradiation etc.) are in use or being developed for the modification of polymer surfaces. However an important limitation in their employment is the alteration of bulk material. Different surface and bulk properties of biomaterials are often desirable for biomedical applications. Because extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation penetration is quite limited even in low density mediums, it could be possible to use it for surface modification without influencing the bulk material. This article reviews the degree of biocompatibility of different polymeric biomaterials being currently employed in various biomedical applications, the surface properties required to be modified for biocompatibility control, plasma and laser ablation based surface modification techniques, and research studies indicating possible use of EUV for enhancing biocompatibility.

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In this paper we report a desk-top microscopy reaching 50 nm spatial resolution in very compact setup using a gas-puff laser plasma EUV source. The thickness of an object and the bandwidth of illuminating radiation were studied in order to estimate their quantitative influence on the EUV microscope spatial resolution. EUV images of various thickness objects obtained by illumination with variable bandwidth EUV radiation were compared in terms of knife-edge spatial resolution to study the bandwidth/object thickness parasitic influence on spatial resolution of the EUV microscope.

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A compact, high-repetition table-top EUV source, based on a gas-puff target, is presented. This source was developed in our group and is capable of emitting quasi-monochromatic radiation at 13.8 nm wavelength with the inverse relative bandwidth of 140 and pulse energies up to similar to 1.3 mu J/pulse at 10-Hz repetition rate. The source is debris-free, operates near the lithographic wavelengths and offers the energy density of similar to 0.4 mJ/cm(2) in each EUV pulse. These three features make the source attractive for lithographic experiments. The timing optimization of the source, its energy per pulse, spectral and spatial distributions are pointed out in detail as well as the enhancement in energy density achievable with a multi-layer collector mirror compared to a planar mirror of equal reflectivity

Background. The accessibility of the remineralizing ions in teeth's environment is essential for their incorporation into caries-affected dentin. Novel bioglass-reinforced materials capable of releasing fluoride, calcium and phosphates may be particularly useful in the tissue remineralization process. A novel restorative material, ACTIVA BioActive-Restorative (Pulpdent Corp., Watertown, USA), is a hydrophilic resin-modified glassionomer cement (RMGIC) enriched with bioglass particles and fortified with a patented rubberized polymer resin. Its application in restorative dentistry may be significant, promoting remineralization of carious lesions. Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare the fluoride ion release profiles from a bioglass-reinforced RMGIC, a conventional glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and a nanohybrid restorative polymer resin. Material and methods. The quantity of fluoride ions released from ACTIVA, Ketac Molar Quick Aplicap and Tetric EvoCeram was assessed using a fluoride-specific electrode. The surface characteristics of the preand post-experimental specimens were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal microscope. An X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis was additionally used to examine the chemical compositions of the dental materials. Results. The greatest quantity of fluoride ions was freed from the GIC specimens (20.698-54. 118 ppm), followed by the bioglass-reinforced RMGIC (from 1.236 to 15.552 ppm) and nanohybrid polymer resin (0.370-1. 148 ppm). The pre-experimental specimens of the bioglass-reinforced RMGIC were porous, while the post-experimental specimens were smoother with visible micro-cracks. The XRD analysis of the bioglass particles confirmed that the material was composed mainly of fluoride (27.70 mass%), silicon (15.62 mass%), aluminum (5.91 mass%), and calcium (5.40 mass%). Conclusions. The fluoride ion release profile of ACTIVA was lower than the GIC Keta Molar Quick Aplicap, but significantly higher than the nanohybrid restorative polymer resin Tetric EvoCeram.