Plasma Treatment Improved Surface Properties and Enhanced Cell Adhesion on Poly-ε-Caprolactone for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering Applications

All articles of this category (opens in new window) Background: Tissue engineering (TE), a multidisciplinary alternative solution, provides an assured substitution of damaged tissues by combining engineering with biomedicine. A tissue-engineered heart valve is a fully functional tissue product facilitated through the cultivation of autologous cells on appropriate scaffolds. Scaffold’s surface charge and wettability are the main factors that significantly affect cell adhesion, which is known to be favorable on hydrophilic surfaces. Moreover, biocompatible scaffolds that induce a minimal immunogenic response are also essential for successful tissue engineering. However, commonly used biocompatible polymers in industry with preferable bulk properties lack desirable surface properties. For example, biomedical polymers, such as poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) or polylactic acid (PLA), which are widely used as scaffolds in TE, are known for their satisfying structural and mechanical properties, but due to their surface characteristics, cell attachment and consequently cell growth on these polymers are limited. Methods: In this study, we investigated the possible effect of H2-N2 plasma treatment on PCL surface wettability to see the feasibility of improvement in cell adhesion and proliferation. Results: Our results showed an increase in the hydrophilicity of the 300 nm-PCL specimens after plasma treatment, which was followed by a significant enhancement in cell attachment without altering PCL mechanical properties. Conclusion: Plasma surface modification is an assuring approach that can be used to improve PCL cell adhesion and, consequently, cell growth without altering its bulk properties and fiber morphology. Publication History Article published online: 17 February 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany