Plasma-modified nylon meshes as supports for cell culturing.

The polymeric surfaces of three commercially available nylon films with mesh openings of 5 microns, 10 microns and 20 microns were treated with anhydrous ammonia gaseous plasma. Cells cultured on the plasma-treated nylon films have higher proliferation rate and assume morphology distinct from those cultured on the unmodified films. Of the three plasma-modified membranes, the one with 5 microns mesh openings supported a largest population of cell growth. The plasma-treated nylon meshes provided a stronger anchorage for the collagen matrices formed within the mesh openings. Application of this collagen/nylon meshes for cell culturing is demonstrated.