Majid Sarmadi

Plasma-Enhanced Synthesis of Bactericidal Quaternary Ammonium Thin Layers on Stainless Steel and Cellulose Surfaces

We have investigated bottom-up chemical synthesis of quaternary ammonium (QA) groups exhibiting antibacterial properties on stainless steel (SS) and filter paper surfaces via nonequilibrium, low-pressure plasma-enhanced functionalization. Ethylenediamine (ED) plasma under suitable conditions generated films rich in secondary and tertiary amines. These functional structures were covalently attached to the SS surface by treating SS with O 2 and hexamethyldisiloxane plasma prior to ED plasma treatment. QA structures were formed by reaction of the plasma-deposited amines with hexyl bromide and subsequently with methyl iodide. Structural compositions were examined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and surface topography was investigated with atomic force microscopy and water contact angle measurements. Modified SS surfaces exhibited greater than a 99.9% decrease in Staphylococcus aureus counts and 98% in the case of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The porous filter paper surfaces with immobilized QA groups inactivated 98.7% and 96.8% of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, respectively. This technique will open up a novel way for the synthesis of stable and very efficient bactericidal surfaces with potential applications in development of advanced medical devices and implants with antimicrobial surfaces.

Surface modification of polypropylene under argon and oxygen-RF-plasma conditions

Polypropylene fabrics samples were surface functionalized under Ar and O2 RF plasma conditions. Survey and high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance FTIR comparative evaluation of virgin and plasma treated substrat surfaces, and their pentafluorophenyl hydrazine-derivatized correspondents, indicate that both Ar and O2-discharge treated PP surfaces undergo intense oxidation. C=O, O−C=O, and C−O linkages were identified on both inert and reactive gas plasma exposed surfaces. It was found that the relative surface atomic concentrations and the relative ratios of newly created functionalities are controlled by the external plasma parameters (RF power and treatment time). The oxidation of Ar-plasma treated surfaces has been related toex situ post plasma mechanisms. Dynamic contact angle measurements from unmodified and plasma exposed substrates demonstrated the presence of increased surface polarity, and its dependence on plasma parameters. AFM evaluations of plasma treated samples indicate the presence of rough surface morphologies.

Immobilization of papain on cold-plasma functionalized polyethylene and glass surfaces

Polyethylene and glass surfaces were functionalized under dichlorosilane-RF-cold-plasma environments and were employed as substrates for further in situ derivatization reactions and immobilization of papain. Surface functionality changes of RF-plasma-exposed surfaces were monitored under 40 kHz continuous discharge environments. The nature and morphology of derivatized substrates and the substrates bearing the immobilized enzyme were analyzed using survey and high resolution ESCA, ATR-FTIR, and fluorescence of chemical derivatization techniques. Spacer molecules intercalated between the substrates and the enzyme significantly increased the enzyme activity (comparable with the that of the free enzyme). Computer-aided conformational modeling of the substrate-spacer systems corroborated with experimental data indicated that an optimal distance might exist between the enzyme and the substrate. The activity of free and immobilized papain was monitored using benzoyl arginine ethyl ester assay. The pH data were recorded every 0.3 s over 25 min. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants were evaluated for immobilized enzymes. It was shown, that the immobilized papain retains most of its activity after several washing/assay cycles.