Bacterial colonisation of synthetic materials surfaces is an important problem in many fields and consequently there have been considerable efforts over many decades to find solutions. This review discusses plasma‐based strategies for combating infections at biomedical implants and devices, caused by the attachment of bacteria and their subsequent biofilm formation on device surfaces. Plasma polymerisation and plasma treatment have become attractive modalities for developing antibacterial coatings and various strategies have been reported. Plasma polymers have been used as reservoirs loaded with antibacterial agents that are subsequently released. Plasma polymer layers can also serve as a diffusion barrier to control the release rate. Plasma‐modified surfaces are also utilised as functional coatings for attachment of biocidal or bacteriostatic molecules. A popular strategy continues to be the use of silver ions or silver nanoparticles in polymer matrices. Another popular approach comprises the use of quaternary amine compounds on surfaces. In both cases, antibacterial activity is indeed obtained, but damage to human cells and tissue remains a concern. Alternative approaches utilising the covalent immobilisation of antibiotic molecules are discussed. We also assess existing strategies and their potential usefulness.
Using radio-frequency glow-discharge plasma techniques, we have
prepared surface patterns of various chemical
functionalities on a micrometer scale. While
H2O-plasma etching, discovered in this study, was used
for
generating surface patterns of oxygen-containing polar groups using a
mask, surface patterning of various
functionalities, including both polar and nonpolar groups, was achieved
by plasma polymerization in a patterned
fashion using appropriate monomer vapors and/or discharge conditions.
Furthermore, we have developed a
versatile method for obtaining patterned conducting polymers by first
depositing a thin, patterned plasma
polymer layer using a mask onto a metal-sputtered electrode and then
performing electropolymerization of
monomers such as pyrrole within the regions not covered by the
patterned plasma polymer layer. The
conducting polymer patterns thus prepared were shown to be electrically
active.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.