Novel plasma processes for biomaterials: micro-scale patterning of biomedical polymers

Plasma processes of interest for tissue engineering, biosensors and related applications have been utilized for micro-scale patterning polymers with ‘physical masks’. The surface of polystyrene substrates has been patterned with different chemical micro-domains, each one able to induce different adhesion, spreading and growth behavior of cells. Cell adhesive tracks spaced with wider non-fouling PEO-like zones have been developed at the surface of the substrates, and utilized in cell growth experiments.