Low-temperature argon and ammonia plasma treatment of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate films: Surface topography and chemistry changes affect fibroblast cells in vitro

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) films were plasma-treated using pure NH3, pure Ar or mixtures of the two different proportions (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 70% NH3 in Ar). Surface chemistry and surface topography changes of PHB films were observed after plasma processing in all plasma regimes. The XPS results confirmed the absence of chemical modification in the case of pure Ar plasma treatment. Nitrogen-containing groups (e.g., NCO) were detected on the...