Effects of non-thermal plasma surface treatment on cellular behavior : a review
Résumé
The plasma state consists of a mixture of charged and neutral particles including atoms, ions, molecules, electrons, and radicals. Its uses on biomedical surfaces has been shown to be a promising technique, leading to increased biocompatibility by the insertion of chemical groups derived from the gas used, without causing damage to the surface. The exposure by plasma makes the new topography more attractive for cells adhesion. This affinity with the substrate is crucial for adhesion to occur and is of fundamental importance for the development of a biomaterial that will be incorporated in vivo by tissue engineering. The aim was to perform a systematic review on cell adhesion on plasma treated surfaces in order to understand the mechanisms by which this occurs. The analysed studies had shown that the exposure to the plasma reduced the surface’s contact angle, hence improving the hydrophilicity of the material. The roughness was also altered, with an increase observed for all plasma-treated specimens. These effects may have been responsible for the better adhesion and growth of cells. It can be concluded that the topographic polarity exerts a major influence on the growth and development of cells on it, since it alters the presentation of binding proteins that contribute to cell anchoring. Surface hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity alterations, by means of topographic treatments, can be a way to depress or increase cell adhesion, as required for a specific purpose.