Elsevier, Surface and Coatings Technology, (205), p. S548-S551
DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2011.04.069
Full text: Unavailable
Poly epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) and poly (DL)-lactic acid (P(D,L)LA) scaffolds with controlled pore dimensions (100-200 mu m) were processed in low pressure RF (13.56 MHz) Glow Discharges. Ethylene/N(2) mixtures (for PCL) and allyl amine (for P(D,L)LA) were used to plasma deposit cell-adhesive coatings with controlled conditions to increase the affinity of Saos2 osteoblast and 3T3 fibroblast cell lines, respectively. Very promising results were obtained in terms of N-containing species penetration, by plasma processes, inside the core regions of scaffolds. In particular, a new double deposition process from allyl amine (core) and hexane (periphery), created a chemical gradient from the top to the bottom of the scaffolds, that increased the metabolic activity of cells inside the scaffolds.