Microporous N-doped carbon film produced by cold atmospheric plasma jet and its cell compatibility

Microporous nitrogen-doped carbon layers are deposited using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet at room temperature. The cytocompatibility of the microporous nitrogen-doped carbon layer is investigated by monitoring the proliferation and adhesion of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. The composition and chemical states of the polymer coatings are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Improved cell proliferation and adhesion are observed from the microporous N-doped carbon layers. The in vitro enhancement can be attributed to the altered surface morphology and new functional groups. The results suggest that the cold atmospheric plasma jet is a simple and practical means to produce good cytocompatibility suitable for biomedical applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.