Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Deposition of Patterned Polymer Films for Cell Culture Applications

A miniature nonthermal atmospheric plasma jet was used to deposit patterns of plasma polymers on standard Pyrex Petri dishes from an argon/acetylene gas mixture. The injection of the C2H2 monomer through the powered capillary electrode ending in the nozzle section allowed a stable operation of the plasma jet and the successful deposition of plasma-polymer tracks approximate to 500 mu m wide. The line-averaged gas temperature was measured from the OH molecular band emission originating from the entrainment of air into the plasma jet. The gas temperature decreased monotonically from approximate to 440 K at the nozzle exit to approximate to 385 K at 5 mm downstream. The emission profiles of the C-2 (516 nm) band showed a peak approximate to 0.5 mm downstream the nozzle exit. The maximum emission for the CH band (431 nm) was obtained at the torch exit. An ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis of the deposited plasma-polymer films revealed the presence of C-H, O-H, and C = O functional groups. Mammalian cells grown on the argon/acetylene plasma-treated dishes showed migration and greater density compared to the control and dishes treated with an argon plasma jet. This preliminary study opens the door to the localized enhancement of cell coverage on various substrates (shape and material).