A ToF-SIMS and XPS study of protein adsorption and cell attachment across PEG-like plasma polymer films with lateral compositional gradients

► Surface chemical 'PEG-like' gradients were generated using plasma polymerisation. ► XPS and ToF-SIMS (with PCA analysis) were employed to characterise the gradients. ► FBS exposure time showed to affect adsorption across the gradients. ► Surface chemistry correlated with serum protein adsorption and cell attachment.