Bacterial cellulose-based cell culture platform modified by oxygen plasma for tissue engineering applications

The topography of a biomaterial can influence the biological behavior of cells cultivated on its surface, with effects on cell proliferation, viability, and differentiation. In this study, investigation was made of physicochemical effects of the use of oxygen plasma to modify the surface of a bacterial cellulose platform for cell culture. Two durations of exposure (2.5 and 5 min) of the bacterial cellulose platforms to plasma were used, with analysis of the effects on the microenvironment of the OSTEO-1 cells cultivated for 14 days on the surface of the platforms. The physicochemical modifications were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance, contact angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy. The biological behavior of the OSTEO-1 cells was evaluated considering cell proliferation, cell viability, degree of mineralization, and alkaline phosphatase activity. The contact angle and atomic force microscopy results revealed time-dependent changes in the surface roughness and polarity of the samples, which were responsible for modulation of the biological responses of the cells cultivated on the cellulose platforms. Plasma modification resulted in greater hydrophobicity of the sample surfaces. The changes in the roughness of the bacterial cellulose platforms indicated that the physical modifications induced by the oxygen plasma treatment provided a favorable microenvironment for the cultured cells.