title: Effects of fiber density and plasma modification of nanofibrous membranes on the adhesion and growth of HaCaT keratinocytes.
abstract: It may be possible to regulate the cell colonization of biodegradable polymer nanofibrous membranes by plasma treatment and by the density of the fibers. To test this hypothesis, nanofibrous membranes of different fiber densities were treated by oxygen plasma with a range of plasma power and exposure times. Scanning electron microscopy and mechanical tests showed significant modification of nanofibers after plasma treatment. The intensity of the fiber modification increased with plasma power and exposure time. The exposure time seemed to have a stronger effect on modifying the fiber. The mechanical behavior of the membranes was influenced by the plasma treatment, the fiber density, and their dry or wet state. Plasma treatment increased the membrane stiffness; however, the membranes became more brittle. Wet membranes displayed significantly lower stiffness than dry membranes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed a slight increase in oxygen-containing groups on the membrane surface after plasma treatment. Plasma treatment enhanced the adhesion and growth of HaCaT keratinocytes on nanofibrous membranes. The cells adhered and grew preferentially on membranes of lower fiber densities, probably due to the larger area of void spaces between the fibers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic marketa.bacakova@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Marketa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacakova
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lopot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic Dept. of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadraba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaloudkova
authors.affiliation: Elmarco Ltd., Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stranska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suchy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bacakova
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004595:Electroplating; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D058626:Plasma Gases
keywords: Tissue engineering; fiber density; fibroblasts; keratinocytes; nanofibers; needle-less electrospinning; plasma-treatment; skin