AVS 49th International Symposium
    Plasma Science Wednesday Sessions
       Session PS+BI-WeA

Paper PS+BI-WeA6
Chemical Surface Micropatterning by Plasma and VUV Photochemical Modification of Polymers for Controlled Cell Culture.

Wednesday, November 6, 2002, 3:40 pm, Room C-103

Session: Plasma Processing for Biocompatible Surfaces
Presenter: N.A. Bullett, Ecole Polytechnique, Canada
Authors: N.A. Bullett, Ecole Polytechnique, Canada
F.E. Truica-Marasescu, Ecole Polytechnique, Canada
M.R. Wertheimer, Ecole Polytechnique, Canada
Correspondent: Click to Email
The three dimensional nature of the biomolecular environment in contact with cells has an important influence on the initiation and control of cell processes such as adhesion, migration, growth, protein secretion and gene expression. Traditionally, cell culture uses homogeneous substrates with no control over the biochemical and topological features in the immediate vicinity of the cells. The shape of mammalian cells is determined by the interaction of cell contact receptors with other cells or extracellular matrix proteins. Regulation of the shape of cells may enhance the function and differentiation of the cells. Surface modification of polymeric materials by low-pressure plasma and VUV photochemical treatment provides a convenient route to the fabrication of well defined chemically functionalised surfaces. A variety of functional groups may be introduced into the polymer surface, including amine and hydroxyl. Using these techniques it is possible to engineer surfaces that have a wide variety of applications in biomaterials technology, such as cell and protein adhesive surfaces or non-fouling surfaces. Complex micropatterns of chemically different regions have been produced by the selective functionalisation of the polymer using photolithographically defined masks. By this method, chemically distinct regions are produced at the micrometer scale, with a third dimension being provided by nanoscale topographical features. This three dimensional environment, on the nano- or micrometer scale, provides a complex but controllable surface for the culture of many different cell types. Characterisation of the micropatterned surfaces has been performed by XPS, FTIR, imaging TOF-SIMS and fluorescence microscopy. The surfaces have subsequently been used to study the attachment and growth of various cell types, for example bone-derived cells with orthopaedic applications.