Non-Equilibrium Plasma Processing for the Preparation of Antibacterial Surfaces

Abstract

Non-equilibrium plasmas offer several strategies for developing antibacterial surfaces that are able to repel and/or to kill bacteria. Due to the variety of devices, implants, and materials in general, as well as of bacteria and applications, plasma assisted antibacterial strategies need to be tailored to each specific surface. Nano-composite coatings containing inorganic (metals and metal oxides) or organic (drugs and biomolecules) compounds can be deposited in one step, and used as drug delivery systems. On the other hand, functional coatings can be plasma-deposited and used to bind antibacterial molecules, for synthesizing surfaces with long lasting antibacterial activity. In addition, non-fouling coatings can be produced to inhibit the adhesion of bacteria and reduce the formation of biofilm. This paper reviews plasma-based strategies aimed to reduce bacterial attachment and proliferation on biomedical materials and devices, but also onto materials used in other fields. Most of the activities described have been developed in the lab of the authors.

The future for plasma science and technology

“…PECVD and plasma treatment of biomedical materials to optimize their interaction with biological tissues is another field where non‐thermal plasmas have raised academic and industrial interest for decades. Interesting properties, such as cell compatibility, non‐fouling features, tunable hydrophobic/philic and acid/base surface character, drug release, and bacterial resistance, can be achieved on prostheses and biomedical devices.…”

White paper on plasma for medicine and hygiene: Future in plasma health sciences

“…Several plasma‐synthesized surfaces are available today that are in the process to be or are already translated in commercial products. The following list on surface functionalization is certainly not complete: cell‐adhesive, non‐fouling cell repulsive; hydrophilic hydrogel‐like; functionalized for biomolecule immobilization; drug releasing; and resistant to bacterial growth . The term non fouling is referred to the ability of certain surfaces, generally highly hydrated, to repel cells, bacteria and biomolecules and avoid their adhesion; Surfaces with anti‐bacterial properties may certainly be developed with the LP/AP plasma deposition of non‐fouling coatings, for example, with Polyethylene Oxide (PEO)‐like structure; release properties of antibacterial compounds can be added to the coatings by means of proper LP/AP plasma processes, for the implementation of local killing properties against bacteria.…”

Increased elastic modulus of plasma polymer coatings reinforced with detonation nanodiamond particles improves osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

“…The high branched and crosslinked structure of plasma polymers leads to excellent adhesion ability to solid substrates. Thus the need for additional "glue" material between the coatings and the implants is avoided (Pihan et al, 2009;Szili et al, 2011;Sardella et al, 2016). Furthermore, by adding fillers to the polymer network new plasma polymers with stable mechanical properties can be developed (Picraux and differentiation of MSCs on stiffer materials (Chen and Jacobs, 2013;Vertelov et al, 2016).…”