THE USE OF GAS PLASMA TREATMENT TO IMPROVE THE CELL SUBSTRATE PROPERTIES OF A SKIN SUBSTITUTE MADE OF POLY(ETHER) POLY(ESTER) COPOLYMERS/

The objective of this study was to improve the cell substrate interact ions between skin cells and a biodegradable elastomeric matrix, part o f a cell-seeded skin substitute for the treatment of large-scale deep dermal skin defects (i.e. burn wounds). Polyactive, a synthetic biodeg radable elastomeric copolymer, was used as the constituent of the bila yered matrix. It consists of a dense toplayer seeded with epidermal ke ratinocytes and a macroporus underlayer, which may be seeded with derm al fibroblasts. Although former studies demonstrated the suitability o f the copolymer as a substrate for these skin-derived cell types, we a imed to improve the bilayered matrix' seeding efficiency. Using radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) pretreatment significantly improved th e adherence and growth of SVK14 epithelial cells seeded on the dense c opolymeric to players and on non-tissue grade plastics, approximating tissue culture polystyrene values. With scanning electron microscopy e arly epithelial cell-substrate interactions were investigated. Seeding efficiency and growth of dermal fibroblasts into the porous underlaye rs was improved as was visualized with the SEM and confocal scanning l aser microscopy. It is concluded that RFGD pretreatment is a cost-effe ctive measurement for improving cell substrate properties of the inves tigated copolymers.