title: Surface modification of electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber meshes by plasma treatment to enhance biological performance.
abstract: A critical aspect in the development of biomaterials is the optimization of their surface properties to achieve an adequate cell response. In the present work, electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber meshes (NFMs) are treated by radio-frequency (RF) plasma using different gases (Ar or O(2)), power (20 or 30 W), and exposure time (5 or 10 min). Morphological and roughness analysis show topographical changes on the plasma-treated NFMs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicate an increment of the oxygen-containing groups, mainly --OH and --C==O, at the plasma-treated surfaces. Accordingly, the glycerol contact angle results demonstrate a decrease in the hydrophobicity of plasma-treated meshes, particularly in the O(2)-treated ones. Three model cell lines (fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts) are used to study the effect of plasma treatments over the morphology, cell adhesion, and proliferation. A plasma treatment with O(2) and one with Ar are found to be the most successful for all the studied cell types. The influence of hydrophilicity and roughness of those NFMs on their biological performance is discussed. Despite the often claimed morphological similarity of NFMs to natural extracellular matrixes, their surface properties contribute substantially to the cellular performance and therefore those should be optimized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, S. Cláudio do Barco, Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Albino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Elisabete D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pashkuleva
authors.forename: Alexandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Nuno M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Neves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004602:Elements; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011846:Radio Waves; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004602:Elements; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D005990:Glycerol