Development of PEG Like Antifouling Coating on the Surface of Polycaprolactone (PCL) 3D Scaffolds via a Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Assisted Polymerization

ABSTRACT Polycaprolactone (PCL) is commonly used in tissue engineering, but it does not interact with cells. This research explores into how we can modify the surface of PCL to enhance their antifouling properties. We applied a nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet polymerization technique using ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (EGDE) on PCL scaffolds. By varying the applied voltage (12, 14 and 16 kV), we investigated how it affected the modifications. Using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we confirmed that the modified surfaces retained more characteristic functional groups on the surface at moderate potential of 14 kV. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the surface roughness increased with higher voltage. In addition, contact angle measurements and surface energy calculations showed a significant increase in the hydrophilicity meaning the modified PCL become more water‐loving. Lastly, in vitro tests for cell compatibility showed that the modified surfaces had better antifouling properties, especially the samples that retained the most functional groups. In summary, we successfully modified PCL surfaces through plasma polymerization, leading to enhanced hydrophilicity and antifouling characteristics, with improvements closely linked to the number of functional groups present on the surface.