Fabrication and characterization of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin film by plasma polymerization used for cell culture

• Polymethylmethacrylate was deposited by radio frequency plasma polymerization.
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy assesses films' microstructures.
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measures the surface chemical compositions.
• Biocompatibility of films was proved by the culture of human hepatocytes.
• Trypsin cell count, ELISA and MTT assay were used to qualify the biocompatibility.

Poly-methyl-methacrylate thin films were deposited by plasma polymerization under different radio-frequency discharge powers, monomer partial pressures, and deposition times. Surface profiler was used to evaluate the thickness and deposition rates of deposited films; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the microstructures; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the surface chemical compositions and atomic force microscope for the surface morphology. In addition to the as-deposited PMMA films, some selected films were further treated by oxygen to modify their surfaces. After thorough material characterizations, the films were used as substrates to culture human hepatocytes for testing their biocompatibility. Results of the cell culture were assessed by trypsin cell count, ELISA and MTT assay. It is found that the human hepatocytes can proliferate and perform urea synthesis well on the deposited poly-methyl-methacrylate thin films with or without oxygen treatment.