Cellulosic substrates are known for their biocompatibility, non-cytotoxicity, hypoallergenicity and sterilizability. It is therefore desirable to have a bundle of methods to equip them with tailored properties such as affinity profiles for various applications. In the case of highly swelling materials such as cellulose sponges, “dry” functionalization using plasma activation is the method of choice. The purpose of the study was to adapt low-pressure plasma technology for targeted cellulose modification. Using plasma (pre-) treatment combined with gaseous reactants like O_2, ethylene oxide or silane, three different cellulose modifications were obtained and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Swelling measurements and bacterial adhesion tests revealed distinctive material properties compared to educt. The development of these non-aqueous methods demonstrated an effective procedural route towards modified cellulosic materials for usage in wound dressing, micro patterned assays or bacterial filtration.

The harmonious regulation of bodily function is a necessity for healthy individuals. Looking from the viewpoint of material sciences, one can only marvel at the cellular factories, their renewal, and the overall control of messaging and control of responses. As aging progresses and/or pathologies arise, clinicians may be forced to look for replacement of organs/tissues with medical devices. Since all devices are tailored, a detailed understanding of developmental processes, including aberrant processes leading to pathologies, is crucial to provide clinicians with a suitable device. Although research in the field of epigenetics has produced effective therapeutics and diagnostic markers, our currently fragmented understanding of epigenetic processes as they relate to material development is inherently limited, with logical implications for the success of medical procedures. Here, we illustrate how material sciences for clinical applications, critically depend on all aspects of biomedical sciences, including the field of epigenetics.