Oxygen Plasma Etching of Silk Fibroin Alters Surface Stiffness: A Cell-Substrate Interaction Study

Abstract

Oxygen plasma etching was used to treat silk fibroin (SF). The plasma exposure removed a significant amount of SF but left behind most surface properties close to their original state. However, nano-indenter measurements revealed a substantial increase in surface modulus of swollen SF from 62 to 500 kPa. This allowed oxygen plasma etching as a potential tool to investigate the impact of surface stiffness on cell-substrate interaction. Mouse fibroblasts (L929) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) were employed as distinct model cases. In vitro results revealed that the increased stiffness of plasma-treated SF affected only L929 adhesion, not hMSC. L929 cell attachment and spreading were better on the stiffer surface than the untreated surface, while hMSC could spread well on all SF surfaces.

Enhanced adherence of mouse fibroblast and vascular cells to plasma modified polyethylene

“…The LDPE distinction might be possibly caused by its highest smoothness (R a equaled only to 3.3 nm), since the water contact angle on all pristine PE was the same, 100°. Similar to the results revealed in our work, Amornsudthiwat and Damrongsakkul [42] reported positive effect of oxygen plasma modified silk fibroin on adhesion and proliferation of L929 cells, similar to Refs. [43,44].…”

Gelation Process and Physicochemical Properties of Thai Silk Fibroin Hydrogels Induced by Various Anionic Surfactants for Controlled Release of Curcumin

“…Our previous research demonstrated the fabrication techniques and applications of various SF-based materials obtained from regenerated SF solution and its blends with gelatin, for example, film, hydrogel, scaffold, tube, microsphere, and fiber (Amornsudthiwat and Damrongsakkul, 2014;Lerdchai et al, 2016;Okhawilai et al, 2010;Ratanavaraporn et al, 2014;Somvipart et al, 2013;Thitiwuthikiat et al, 2015;Wongputtaraksa et al, 2012). Among various formulations, hydrogel is the form of a hydrophilic polymer chain network, which has the ability to encapsulate the drug with a high efficiency.…”

Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment for enhancing the conducting properties of polypyrrole coated nylon fabric

“…Additionally when oxygen was introduced in helium that is samples treated with He+O 2 has improved surface roughness than helium it could be due to reactive oxygen species present in plasma and play important role in polymer surface etching 23 on the contrary argon has atomic weight 40 and therefore the heavy ion bombardment is possible and resulted in increased surface roughness. 24,25 This rough surface provides improved wettability in nylon fabric and promotes better adhesion though mechanical interlocking of coating substances. 20,21 It may be noticed that the samples treated with argon have the highest surface roughness but the highest wicking was observed for helium and He+O 2 treated samples.…”