EN
X
Research Papers
Challenging, professional and creative talent driving the future
Research Papers
Improvement in Biocompatibility and Biointegration of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix through Vacuum Plasma Surface Treatment

Efforts are ongoing to enhance the functionality of human acellular dermal matrices (hADMs), which are extensively utilized in reconstructive surgeries. Among these efforts, plasma treatments, particularly vacuum plasma treatments, have recently emerged in the medical field. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum plasma treatment in enhancing the biocompatibility and biointegration of hADMs. Utilizing a plasma activator (ACTILINK reborn, Plasmapp Co., Ltd., Daejeon, Republic of Korea), hADMs were treated and evaluated through in vitro and in vivo analyses. Hydrophilicity changes were gauged by the blood absorption times, while SEM imaging was used to analyze physical surface deformation. Protein adsorption was measured with fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin and fibronectin. For the in vivo study, mice were implanted with plasma-treated and untreated hADMs, and the post-implantation effects were analyzed through histological and immunofluorescence microscopy. The plasma-treated hADMs demonstrated a significantly enhanced hydrophilicity compared to the untreated samples. SEM imaging confirmed the maintenance of the microroughness after the treatment. The treated hADMs showed a significant reduction in fibronectin adsorption, a critical factor for cellular adhesion. In vivo, the plasma-treated hADMs exhibited reduced capsule formation and enhanced fibroblast infiltration, indicating improved biocompatibility and integration. These findings highlight the potential of a plasma treatment to enhance the performance of hADMs in clinical settings, offering a promising avenue for improving reconstructive surgery outcomes.

 

Vacuum Plasma Treatment Device for Enhancing Fibroblast Activity on Machined and Rough Titanium Surfaces

This study was conducted to compare the effects of an innovative plasma surface treatment device that does not need a gas supply for titanium disks with two different surface topographies: the prototypical machined surface (MAC) and one of the most diffused roughened ones (SL) obtained through grit blasting and acid etching. A total of 200-MAC and 200-SL titanium disks were used. Each group of disks was divided into four sub-groups of 40 samples each that were subjected to five different tests. Among these, 150-MAC and 150-SL were considered the test group, and they were treated with plasma for 15, 30, and 60 s after being removed from the sterile packaging. On the other hand, 50-MAC and 50-SL were considered the control group, and they were only removed from sterile plastic vials. The samples were analyzed to evaluate the capability of the plasma treatment in influencing protein adsorption, cell adhesion, proliferation, and microbial growth on the test group disks when compared to the untreated disks. Protein adsorption was significantly enhanced after 20 min of plasma treatment for 15 and 30 s on the MAC and SL disks. Plasma treatment for 15 and 30 s significantly increased the level of adhesion in both treated samples after 30 min. Furthermore, the MAC samples showed a significant increase in cell adhesion 4 h after plasma treatment for 15 s. The SEM analysis highlighted that, on the treated samples (especially on the MAC disks), the cells with a polygonal and flat shape prevailed, while the fusiform- and globular-shaped cells were rare. The encouraging results obtained further confirm the effectiveness of plasma treatments on cell adhesion and fibroblast activity.

  1