Biomimetic and bioactive plasma polymer surfaces

Abstract

Plasma polymer surfaces have been produced and analysed to evaluate their suitability as biomimetic and bioactive surfaces. The conclusions drawn are listed below:• Plasma patterning of surfaces can be achieved by both an "ink and lift-off' or "emboss and lift-off" approaches. Plasma patterning using the "emboss and lift-off' approach improves with increasing force used to emboss the aperture containing device. Plasma polymer patterned surfaces can be used to mimic naturally occurring micro-condensers and a combination of super-hydrophobic and super-hydrophilic surfaces results in the optimal micro-condenser. Super-hydrophilic plasma polymer surfaces are superior in cell adhesion tests to polymers at higher contact angles. Plasma patterning of super-hydrophilic spots onto protein resistant backgrounds leads to patterning of cell growth.