Comparison of the effect of excimer laser irradiation and RF plasma treatment on polystyrene surface

Polystyrene (PS) samples were treated with excimer laser, argon and oxygen plasmas. The surface of PS was irradiated using ArF excimer pulsed laser (λ=193 nm). Radio frequency glow discharge (RF) was used to generate the argon and oxygen plasmas. The samples were processed at different number of pulses and treatment times. The changes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle measurements. The data from ATR-FTIR spectra showed the induction process of oxygen-based functional group in both PS samples treated with RF plasma and laser. AFM and SEM observations demonstrated that a specific nanostructure was created on the laser-treated PS surface. Contact angle measurement indicated higher wettability of the treated PS with both argon and oxygen plasmas and lesser wettability of laser-treated samples. The data from in vitro assays showed the significant cell attachment and growth onto plasma-treated surfaces in comparison with laser treated samples.