title: Plasma-polymerized surfaces for culture of human keratinocytes and transfer of cells to an in vitro wound-bed model.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop plasma-polymerized surfaces suitable for the attachment and culture of human keratinocytes and that would allow their subsequent transfer to a wound-bed model. Keratinocyte attachment has been assessed on a carrier polymer, either untreated or treated with a hydrocarbon plasma polymer, collagen I, or carboxylic-acid-containing plasma copolymers. Cell attachment was poor on the "bare" carrier polymer and hydrocarbon plasma polymer (PP) surfaces. Cell attachment was good and comparable on collagen I-coated carrier polymer and carrier polymer plasma coated with carboxylic acid functionalities. After 24 h of cell culture, surfaces were inverted so that cells were adjacent to a de-epidermalized dermis (DED) for 4 days. After 4 days in contact with DED, the surfaces were removed and the level of residual cells and cells transferred to DED were assessed using a cell viability assay. Cell transfer from the collagen I-coated surface was on the order of 90%. Transfer from the carrier polymer surface and the hydrocarbon-coated surface was poor while cells cultured on acid-containing surfaces showed high levels of transfer. Cell transfer was greatest from those surfaces containing the highest level of acid functionality (ca. 21%). Cell transfer was not significantly affected by the choice of carrier polymer material although some sample-to-sample variation was seen. To determine that plasma-polymerized surfaces could be used clinically, selected samples were sterilized with ethylene oxide. Subsequent analysis and cell culture indicated that the surface chemistry and cell-transfer capability of these plasma-polymerized surfaces were unaffected by the sterilization procedure. Plasma-polymerized carboxylic-acid-containing surfaces show great promise in the field of wound healing, encouraging keratinocyte attachment and permitting keratinocyte transfer to a wound bed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Haddow
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macneil
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology*