Orthopaedic materials may improve its capacity to resist bacterial adherence, and subsequent infection. Our aim was to test the bacterial adherence to alpha-tocopherol (frequently named vitamin E, VE) doped or blended UHMWPE with S. aureus and S. epidermidis, compared to virgin material. Collection strains and clinical strains isolated from patients with orthopaedic infections were used, with the biofilm-developing ability as a covariable. While collection strains showed significantly less adherence to VE-UHMWPE, some clinical strains failed to confirm this effect, leading to the conclusion that VE doped or blended UHMWPE affects the adherence of some S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains, independently of the concentration in use, but the results showed important intraspecies differences and cannot be generalized.
Novel proton conducting composite membranes based on sulfonated polysulfone (sPSU)/SiO 2 doped with phosphomolybdic acid (PMoA) were synthesized, and their proton conductivity in acid solutions was evaluated. The hybrid membranes were prepared by casting and the characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of the inorganic charges into the polymer. Thermal properties and proton conductivity were also studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrochemical impedance spectro scopy (EIS), respectively. The incorporation of the inorganic particles modified the thermal and mechanical properties of the sPSU as well as its proton conductivity. Taking into account that a compromise between these properties is necessary, the hybrid membrane with 2%SiO 2 and 20%PMoA seems to be a promising candidate for its application in proton exchange membrane in fuel cells (PEMFCs) operated at high temperatures.
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