| Pacific Rim Symposium on Surfaces, Coatings and Interfaces (PacSurf 2014) | |
| Biomaterial Interfaces | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session BI-TuM |
| Session: | Biomaterial & Wet Interface Characterization |
| Presenter: | Ellen Fisher, Colorado State University |
| Authors: | M.J. Hawker, Colorado State University A. Pegalajar-Jurado, Colorado State University M.N. Mann, Colorado State University E.R. Fisher, Colorado State University |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Porous 3D materials are used in a range of applications from tissue engineering to water filtration to drug delivery systems. In many instances, the surface properties of these materials are not, however, ideal for the intended applications. Low temperature plasmas offer a versatile method for delivering tailored functionality to a range of materials. Despite the vast array of choices offered by plasma processing techniques, there remain a significant number of hurdles that must be overcome to allow this methodology to realize its full potential, especially with porous 3D structures such as membranes and scaffolds. Challenges include ensuring uniform composition following treatment, controlling morphology and damage, characterization of both the external and internal features as well as accurate assessment of bioactivity. Here, we present results demonstrating the relative biocompatibility of various plasma treatment strategies for polymeric membranes and scaffolds. Results from mammalian cell (human dermal fibroblasts) cytotoxicity experiments (MTS, Live/Dead, plating efficiency and morphological studies) will be demonstrated for a range of plasma treated surfaces including bio-nonreactive (e.g. fluorocarbon coated) and bio-reactive (e.g. H2O plasma treated) 3D poly(e-caprolactone) scaffolds. All materials were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements. Additional results demonstrating the efficacy of our plasma treatments in creating low fouling antimicrobial membranes and scaffolds will also be presented. Here, tunable hydrophilic surface modification strategies for different polymeric architectures are evaluated, including plasma modification of NO-releasing materials, ultrafiltration membranes, and polylactic acid constructs. Notably, many of the strategies result in 3D constructs that enhance cell growth and proliferation, retain antibacterial properties and offer promising results for applications including tissue engineering, noble water filtration systems, and advanced biomedical devices.