Alena Řezníčková

Surface characterization of polymer foils

Abstract Electrokinetic potential (zeta potential) for selected 21 polymer foils was studied. The results on zeta potential are supplemented with contact angle measurements (goniometry) and with the results on surface roughness measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Zeta potential was determined using two approaches: streaming current and streaming potential at pH=6.0-6.2. Two electrolyte solutions with KCl (concentrations 0.001 and 0.005 mol/dm3) and KNO3 (0.001 mol/dm3) were used in the experiments. Zeta potential was shown to depend on surface chemistry, polarity, roughness and morphology of the polymer foils.

Variable surface properties of PTFE foils

Abstract Surface properties of commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) foils of different thicknesses were examined using three different methods: AFM, study of a electrokinetical ζ-potential and measurement of a contact angle by goniometry. It was found that the front and back sides of the foils exhibit different surface morphology and roughness, different values of the ζ-potential and contact angle. The contact angle and the ζ-potential are decreasing functions of the foil thickness.

Growth of muscle cells on plasma-treated and gold nanoparticles-grafted polytetrafluoroethylene

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was modified by Ar plasma with different exposure times. The plasma-activated surface was immersed in biphenyldithiol and subsequently in colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles. The changes in the surface wettability contact angle were examined by goniometry. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the surface roughness and morphology. Changes in the chemical structure of the modified PTFE were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrokinetic analysis. The interaction of plasma-treated and grafted samples with vascular smooth muscle cell derived from the rat aorta was also studied. Specifically, the number and morphology of the adhered and proliferated cells on the PTFE were studied under in vitro conditions. The plasma treatment and the subsequent biphenyldithiol and Au nanoparticles grafting led to changes in the polymer surface chemistry, morphology, roughness and wettability. The polymer grafting with biphenyl-4,4′-dithiol (BFD) and subsequently with Au nanoparticles led to a decrease in the surface polarity. XPS measurements proved the presence of S and Au on the PTFE surface. Grafting with BFD and Au nanoparticles led to the decrease in surface roughness. In comparison with the pristine polymer, the plasma treatment and Au nanoparticles grafting increased the adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell.

Characterization of Surface Nanostructures on“Thin” Polyolephine Foils

Surface properties of nanostructures on 7 polyolephine foils were characterized using different analytical methods to discuss an effect of halogen presence in polymer chain to surface properties. Both sides of these foils were examined and compared. Surface roughness and morphology were determined by atomic force microscopy, contact angle by goniometry, surface polarity by electrokinetic analysis. X-ray photoelectron and ultraviolet visible spectroscopies were used for determination of surface chemistry. Combination of different analyses gives complex information about surface properties of the foils, which may be of importance for any future experiments, as well as for their application e.g. in tissue engineering and electronics.

Noble Metal Nanoparticles Prepared by Metal Sputtering into Glycerol and their Grafting to Polymer Surface

This chapter summarizes the basic information about elementary characteristics and tech‐ nology of preparation of noble metal nanoparticles. The introduction gives some basic in‐ formation on the history of development in this area, especially in terms of dimensionality of metal nanostructures and their possible applications.The first subsec‐ tion is devoted to the preparation and characterization of Au, Ag, Pt, and Pd nanoparti‐ cles (NPs), which were synthesized by direct metal sputtering in liquid propane-1,2,3,triole (glycerol). This method provides an interesting alternative to time-consuming, wetbased chemical synthesis techniques. Moreover, the suggested technique allows targeted variation of metal nanoparticle size, which is demonstrated in detail in case of AuNPs by variation of capturing media temperature. Nanoparticle size and shape were studied by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Optical properties of nanoparticle solution were determined by measuring its UV–Vis spectra. Concentration of metal nanoparticles in prepared solutions was determined by atomic absorption spec‐ troscopy. Antibacterial properties were tested against two common pollutants (Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacteria, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, a Gram-positive bacteria). In the presence of Ag nanoparticles, the growth of E. coli and S. epidermidis was complete‐ ly inhibited after 24 h. Any growth inhibition of E. coli was observed neither in the pres‐ ence of “smaller” (4–6 nm, AuNP4–6) nor “bigger” (9–12 nm, AuNP8–12) AuNPs during the whole examination period. AuNP4–6, but not AuNP8–12, was able to inhibit the growth of. S epidermidis. We also observed significant difference in biological activities of Pt and PdNPs. More specifically, PdNPs exhibited considerable inhibitory potential against both E. coli and S. epidermidis, which was in contrast to ineffective PtNPs. Our results indicate that Ag, Pd, and partially AuNPs have high potential to combat both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.The second subsection describes the effort to anchor met‐ al nanoparticles onto polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) carrier. Two different procedures of grafting of polymeric carrier, activated by plasma treatment, with Au and AgNPs are described. In the first procedure, the PET foil was grafted with biphenyl-4,4’-dithiol (BPD) and subsequently with Au and AgNPs. In the second one, the PET foil was grafted with Au and AgNPs previously coated by the same BPD. X-ray photoelectron spectrosco‐