Synergistic Effect of Cold Plasma Treatment and RGD Peptide Coating on Cell Proliferation over Titanium Surfaces

The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment and RGD peptide coating for enhancing cellular attachment and proliferation over titanium (Ti) surfaces. The surface structure of CAP-treated and RGD peptide-coated Ti discs were characterized by contact angle goniometer and atomic force microscopy. The effect of such surface modification on human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) adhesion and proliferation was assessed by cell proliferation and DNA content assays. Besides, hMSCs' adhesion and morphology on surface modified Ti discs were observed via fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy. RGD peptide coating following CAP treatment significantly enhanced cellular adhesion and proliferation among untreated, CAP-treated and RGD peptide-coated Ti discs. The treatment of Ti surfaces with CAP may contribute to improved RGD peptide coating, which enables increased cellular integrations with the Ti surfaces.

New Conversing Technology; Plasma Medicine / 대한이비인후과학회지

Plasma is generated by ionizing of neutral gas molecules, resulting in a mixture of energy particles, including electrons and ions. Recent progress in the understanding of non-thermal atmospheric plasma has led to applications in biomedicine. Studies investigating the interaction of plasma jets with living cells have shown eradication of pathogens, blood coagulation, and the ablation of cultured cancer cells. The effects of cold atmospheric plasma are thus not due to heat, but to active species, mainly oxygen/hydroxyl radicals and nitric oxide, generated in the plasma or in the tissue brought into contact with the plasma. Plasma treatment offers the possibility of modifying tissues at the cellular level and removing diseased sections without inflammation and damage, as well as suppressing infections. Our study showed that non-thermal atmospheric plasma induced growth inhibition and cell death in cancer cells. This study supports the hypothesis that non-thermal atmospheric plasma constitutes a new biologic tool with the potential for therapeutic applications that modulate cell structure and function.