Modification of poly(L-lactide) and polycaprolactone bioresorbable polymeric materials by RF plasma discharge: a preliminary study evaluating EA-hy 926 cell attachment

TL;DR

This study explores how RF plasma discharge surface modification enhances the biocompatibility of bioresorbable polymers L-PLA and PCL, improving cell attachment and surface properties for biomedical applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates that RF plasma treatment with hydroxyapatite sputtering significantly increases hydrophilicity and cell attachment on L-PLA and PCL surfaces, with PCL showing slightly better biocompatibility.

Findings

Surface wettability increased to absolute levels.

Enhanced EA-hy 926 cell attachment observed.

Surface roughness and free energy significantly increased.

Abstract

Surface modification of poly(L-lactide) (L-PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) bioresorbable polymers by radio-frequency thermal glow discharge plasma is reported. Improved biocompatibility of L-PLA and PCL materials was obtained by employing hydroxyapatite target sputtering in Ar+ plasma as evidenced by the change of L-PLA and PCL properties from highly hydrophobic to hydrophilic, with absolute wettability obtained for both materials, and enhanced endothelial hybrid cell line EA-hy 926 attachment to modified surfaces. For the latter, surface properties that suppress adverse cellular responses (e.g. apoptosis, necrosis) were also attained. Surface roughness and surface free energy were found to increase significantly for both polymers under prolonged plasma exposure and, a longer chain aliphatic PCL were found to display a marginally better post plasma-treated biocompatibility compared to L-PLA.