Investigation of CO₂ radio‐frequency plasma treatment on the functionalization and characterization of porous polycaprolactone films

This study presents a novel approach for fabricating porous polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes with tunable pore sizes and tailored surface functionalities. CO 2 plasma treatment was employed to modify the membrane surfaces, introducing specific functional groups aimed at enhancing their suitability for biomedical applications. The effects of plasma exposure on the physiological characteristics of the membranes were examined using various characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis and contact angle measurements. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the different polar functionalities on the porous PCL membrane surfaces. The ideal parameters for effective plasma functionalization of the porous membranes were identified to be 80 W, 60 s and 40 sccm. The hydrophilic nature of the surface was assessed through contact angle studies after 60 s of plasma exposure.