title: The interplay of plasma treatment and gold coating and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene: On the cytocompatibility.
abstract: We have investigated the application of Ar plasma for creation of nanostructured ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) surface in order to enhance adhesion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (L929). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the interface between plasma-treated and gold-coated PE on adhesion and spreading of cells. The surface properties of pristine samples and its modified counterparts were studied by different experimental techniques (gravimetry, goniometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrokinetic analysis), which were used for characterization of treated and sputtered layers, polarity and surface chemical structure, respectively. Further, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to study the surface morphology and roughness. Biological responses of cells seeded on PE samples were evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, spreading, morphology and proliferation. Detailed cell morphology and intercellular connections were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As it was expected the thickness of a deposited gold film was an increasing function of the sputtering time. Despite the fact that plasma treatment proceeded in inert plasma, oxidized degradation products were formed on the PE surface which would contribute to increased hydrophilicity (wettability) of the plasma treated polymer. The XPS method showed a decrease in carbon concentration with increasing plasma treatment. Cell adhesion measured on the interface between plasma treated and gold coated PE was inversely proportional to the thickness of a gold layer on a sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: zdenka1.novotn@vscht.cz.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Novotná
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Silvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rimpelová
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juřík
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veselý
authors.affiliation: Faculty and Science, J. E. Purkinje University in Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kolská
authors.affiliation: Biology Centre CAS CR, SoWa National Research Infrastructure, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hubáček
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruml
authors.affiliation: Department of Solid State Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Švorčík
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D058626:Plasma Gases; D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; D006046:Gold
keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Gold sputtering; Mouse embryonic fibroblasts; Plasma treatment; Scanning electron microscopy; UHMWPE