Plasma activated PDMS microstructured pattern with collagen for improved myoblast cell guidance

We focused on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a substrate for replication, micropatterning, and construction of biologically active surfaces. The novelty of this study is based on the combina-tion of argon plasma exposure of micropatterned PDMS scaffold, where the plasma served as a strong tool for subsequent grafting of collagen coating and their application as cell growth scaf-folds, where the standard has been significantly exceeded. As part of scaffold design, templates with a patterned microstructure of different dimensions (50 x 50, 50 x 20 and 30 x 30 microns were created by photolithography followed by pattern replication on a PDMS polymer substrate. Subsequently, the prepared microstructured PDMS replicas were coated with a type I collagen layer. The sample preparation was followed by the characterization of material surface properties through various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To evaluate the biocompatibility of the produced samples, we conducted studies on the interactions between selected polymer replicas with micro- and nanostructures and mammalian cells. Specif-ically, we utilized mouse myoblasts (C2C12) and our results demonstrate that we achieved excellent cell alignment in conjunction with the development of a cytocompatible surface. Consequently, the outcomes of this research contribute to an enhanced comprehension of surface properties and interactions between structured polymers and mammalian cells. The use of periodic microstructures holds the potential for advancing the creation of novel materials and scaffolds in tissue engineering. These materials exhibit exceptional biocompatibility and possess the capacity to promote cell adhesion and growth.