Fibroblast and epithelial cell interactions with surface-treated implant materials.

The basic mechanisms underlying skin-implant interactions were investigated by means of in vitro experiments with fibroblast and epithelial cell cultures. Cells were cultured on various implant materials treated with radio frequency glow discharge. The possible influence of this treatment on the morphological mode of cell attachment, as well as cell behaviour in attachment and growth rate were investigated. The results demonstrate that there are significant behavioural differences between fibroblasts and epithelial cells.