Considering the degradation effects of amino-functional plasma polymer coatings for biomedical application

Materials for biomedical applications typically involve surface engineering. Scaffolds used for tissue engineering, for example, require a surface functionalization in order to support cell growth. The deposition of functional plasma polymer coatings seems to be an attractive approach to modify substrates for biomedical applications. le degradation of highly functional plasma polymers and the effect of its degradation products on cell growth, however, are not yet investigated in detail. Plasma polymer formation is governed by gas phase (mainly determining the chemical composition) and surface processes (inducing cross-linking) which both influence the incorporation of amino groups in a-C:H:N coatings deposited by NH3/C2H4 discharges. Aging is studied in air and in aqueous conditions revealing the degradation of such plasma polymers (loss in thickness and loss of amino groups). Degradation products seem to influence viability and proliferation of mouse skeletal muscle cells on electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds. Thus, possible chemical changes as a function of time or exposure to different media must be taken into account in the design of functional plasma polymer coatings for biomedical applications in order to avoid possible adverse effects on cell growth.