Table 2 Enhancing stem cell attachment and promoting stem cell proliferation using CAP. (ASCs adipose-derived stem cells, ECM extracellular matrix, ESCs embryonic stem cells, HA hydroxyapatite, HSCs haematopoietic stem cells, MSCs mesenchymal stem cells, NO nitric oxide, NSCs neural stem cells, NT neurotrophin, PCL polycaprolactone, PS polystyrene, PSCs pluripotent stem cells, PU polyurethane, USSCs unrestricted somatic stem cells)

Chemical modification turns PS hydrophilic and supports optimal PSC attachment and long-term self-renewal

[12]

CAP also endows mechanical improvement of surface, which enhances the adhesion and spreading of MSCs

[13]

Nitrogen plasma is better than oxygen and air plasma in improving MSCs attachment on gelatin scaffolds

[14]

CAP modification of PU scaffolds results in differential increments of cell attachment for ESCs and NSCs

[15]

Nanoscale, rather than microscale, PCL scaffolds attract larger benefits from CAP treatment for MSC adhesion

[16]

CAP-modified cochlear implant electrode array surface enables colonization of NT-secreting ASCs

[17]

Oxygen plasma is better than argon plasma in promoting USSCs proliferation on PS surface

[18]

CAP-treated gelatin films support better MSCs proliferation, with the optimal hydrophilicity at 27–32°

[19]

Better MSCs proliferation on HA surface is due to faster progression of cell cycle at a transcriptomic level

[20]

CAP increases ASCs’ proliferation by 60% while maintaining cellular stemness, through NO upregulation

[21]

CAP increases MSCs’ and HSCs’ proliferation by twofold, and activates relevant gene expression

[22]

An epigenetic study in which CAP upregulates genes for cytokines, chemokines but downregulates apoptosis

[23]