Surface Modification of <scp>PGS</scp> Scaffold by Air Plasma: Effect of Plasma Power

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of air cold plasma treatment on the surface modification of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds, emphasizing the role of plasma power and exposure time. Scaffolds were treated at 20, 50, and 100 W for 1, 5, and 10 min, and characterized using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), contact angle analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). OES revealed that 100 W generated the highest concentrations of reactive species, particularly •OH radicals and atomic nitrogen, which correlated with chemical changes on the scaffold surface. FTIR showed a progressive depletion of O–H groups and disappearance of CC bonds, while XPS confirmed the incorporation of oxygen‐ and nitrogen‐containing functionalities such as C–O–C, C–N, N–H, and NO 2 . These modifications enhanced hydrophilicity, as demonstrated by a decrease in contact angle from 79.8° to 49.0° ± 3.7° (100 W, 5 min). SEM confirmed the porous architecture (4–10 μm pores) was preserved, with increased roughness at higher powers. Moreover, treatments at 50 and 100 W improved hydrolytic stability by reducing mass loss and maintaining near‐physiological pH. These findings demonstrate air plasma is a tunable, solvent‐free strategy to optimize PGS scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.