Modulating bone cells response onto starch-based biomaterials by surface plasma treatment and protein adsorption

Understanding how biomaterial surfaces influence cell behavior is a central challenge in tissue engineering. While prior research has shown that surface chemistry and topography can affect cell adhesion and proliferation, the specific role of plasma treatment and protein adsorption remains unclear. Starch-based biomaterials are widely used in biomedical applications due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, their surface properties may limit their effectiveness in promoting bone cell responses. This gap motivated the investigation of oxygen-based plasma treatment and protein adsorption as potential strategies to enhance cell-material interactions. No prior work had resolved how these modifications affect osteoblast-like cells on different starch-based blends. This paper's contribution lies in systematically exploring how plasma treatment and protein systems influence cell behavior on starch-based materials. The study addresses an unresolved question about how surface modification and protein adsorption can be optimized for bone tissue engineering applications.

The study aimed to evaluate how oxygen-based plasma treatment and protein adsorption affect the surface properties of starch-based biomaterials and, in turn, influence the behavior of MG63 osteoblast-like cells. The specific problem addressed is the need to improve the biocompatibility and functionality of starch-based materials for bone tissue engineering. The motivation stems from the observation that starch-based materials, despite their biodegradability, may not inherently support optimal cell adhesion and proliferation. The researchers sought to determine whether plasma treatment and protein adsorption could modulate these properties. By using different starch-polymer blends and protein systems, the study sought to identify optimal surface modifications for bone cell responses. The investigation focused on three types of starch-based blends: SCA, SEVA-C, and SPCL. The goal was to understand how these modifications affect cell adhesion, proliferation, and morphology. The study's design allowed for a direct comparison of surface modification effects across different material systems.

The study employed oxygen-based radio frequency glow discharge (rfGD) to modify the surfaces of starch-based biomaterials. Three types of starch-based blends were tested: SCA, SEVA-C, and SPCL. The surface properties of the treated and untreated materials were characterized using hydrophilicity and surface energy measurements. Protein adsorption was evaluated using bovine serum albumin (BSA), fibronectin (FN), and vitronectin (VN) in single and ternary combinations. The modified and unmodified surfaces were incubated with these protein solutions before being seeded with MG63 osteoblast-like cells. Cell adhesion, proliferation, and morphology were assessed using standard cell culture techniques. The study compared cell behavior on treated and untreated surfaces across all three material types. The experimental setup allowed for the evaluation of how plasma treatment and protein adsorption interact to influence cell responses. The results were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of each modification strategy in promoting bone cell activity.

The rfGD treatment increased surface hydrophilicity and surface energy in all tested starch-based biomaterials. The SCA and SCA+10%HA blends showed the most significant modification effects following plasma treatment. Cell adhesion and proliferation on SCA surfaces were enhanced by protein adsorption, particularly with BSA, FN, and VN in single and ternary systems. Plasma treatment of SEVA-C surfaces led to a notable increase in both adhesion and proliferation compared to non-treated surfaces. On SPCL, plasma modification significantly improved MG63 cell proliferation, even though adhesion was similar on treated and untreated surfaces. Cell morphology on SEVA-C was primarily influenced by the protein system, while on SPCL, plasma treatment played the dominant role. The results suggest that the effectiveness of plasma treatment and protein adsorption depends on the specific material composition. These findings provide insights into how surface modifications can be tailored to optimize cell responses on starch-based biomaterials.

The study found that oxygen-based plasma treatment and protein adsorption can modulate the surface properties of starch-based biomaterials and influence MG63 cell behavior. The effectiveness of these modifications varied depending on the specific material composition. Plasma treatment increased hydrophilicity and surface energy in all tested materials, but the impact on cell adhesion and proliferation was material-dependent. On SCA surfaces, protein adsorption significantly enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Plasma-treated SEVA-C surfaces showed improved adhesion and proliferation compared to non-treated surfaces. On SPCL, plasma treatment promoted cell proliferation despite minimal changes in adhesion. Cell morphology was influenced differently by surface modification and protein adsorption depending on the material. These findings suggest that surface modification strategies can be optimized for specific applications in bone tissue engineering. The authors propose that further research is needed to explore how these modifications affect long-term cell behavior and tissue formation.