Surface chemical micropattems have been created by both low-pressure "cold" plasma, and by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photochemical modification of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). Oxygen, nitrogen and ammonia plasma, and ammonia-VUV treatments have been performed, including through metal masks with micrometer-sized openings. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to characterise the modified surfaces. Imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) of partially masked regions has demonstrated the ability to produce micrometer scale chemical patterns of oxygen and nitrogen-containing functionalities, for example, hydroxyl and amine groups, contrasted with untreated hydrocarbon regions. Nitrogen and ammonia plasma patterned surfaces, and ammonia-VUV patterned surfaces have been used to control the immobilisation and growth of foetal bovine cerebellar neurons and growth plate chondrocytes cells in culture. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.