Cytocompatibility of modified a -C : H film deposited on complicated polymeric medical apparatus

In this study, in order to biologically evaluate the surface condition of the a -C : H film which was deposited on a complicated polymeric medical apparatus by using rf plasma chemical vapor deposition technique with a special three-dimensional-type electrode, we have investigated the cytocompatibility to the a -C : H film with and without plasma post-treatment. The a -C : H film surface was modified with argon (Ar) and oxygen ( O 2 ) plasma post-treatment to change the surface condition of the a -C : H film. The effects of the plasma post-treatment of a -C : H film deposited on a complicated object were estimated by using an Ar-laser Raman microscopy (Raman), a wettability measurement, a x-ray photoelectron spectrometer, and an atomic force microscopy. Additionally, the cellular adhesions of a -C : H film with and without plasma post-treatments were carried out under cell culture by in vitro studies. As results, The surface properties of a -C : H film on a complicated polymeric medical apparatus were controlled by surface modifications with Ar and O 2 plasma post-treatment. Additionally, the cell cultures by in vitro studies have shown good cell growth on all the a -C : H film surface. Moreover, it was observed that cellular growth/adhesion was controlled by surface conditions of the a -C : H film with and without plasma post-treatments.