Enhanced cell-material interactions on medium-pressure plasma-treated polyhydroxybutyrate/polyhydroxyvalerate

In this article, a medium-pressure DBD plasma treatment is used to improve the cell-material interaction of a polyhydroxybutyrate/polyhydroxyvalerate (PHB/PHV) film. PHB/PHV is a biodegradable natural polyester, used for different biomedical applications, including sutures, repair devices, and bone marrow scaffolds. The cell adhesion onto PHB/PHV is far less than optimal due to inadequate surface properties, and a surface modification is usually necessary to be able to use the full potential. Medium-pressure plasma treatments, in different atmospheres, are used to change the surface properties of a PHB/PHV foil. The hydrophilic character could be increased, as shown by water contact angle measurements. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed an increased oxygen and nitrogen content. Cell culture test with human foreskin fibroblasts showed that the plasma was able to improve cell adhesion (both quantitatively and qualitatively). Both an increase in the number of adherent cells and an improved morphology were obtained after plasma treatment. After 7 days, a confluent cell layer could be observed on plasma-treated samples. The differences between the three discharge gases are negligible when looking at the improved cell-material interactions. From economical point of view, treatments in air are thus the best choice.