Samuel Voccia

Stainless steel grafting of hyperbranched polymer brushes with an antibacterial activity: synthesis, characterization, and properties.

Two strategies were used for the preparation of hyperbranched polymer brushes with a high density of functional groups: (a) the cathodic electrografting of stainless steel by poly[2-(2-chloropropionate)ethyl acrylate] [poly(cPEA)], which was used as a macroinitiator for the atom transfer radical polymerization of an inimer, 2-(2-bromopropionate)ethyl acrylate in the presence or absence of heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate, (b) the grafting of preformed hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine) onto poly(N-succinimidyl acrylate) previously electrografted onto stainless steel. The hyperbranched polymer, which contained either bromides or amines, was quaternized because the accordingly formed quaternary ammonium or pyridinium groups are known for antibacterial properties. The structure, chemical composition, and morphology of the quaternized and nonquaternized hyperbranched polymer brushes were characterized by ATR-FTIR reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The peeling test confirmed that the grafted hyperbranched polymer films adhered much more strongly to stainless steel than the nongrafted solvent-cast films. The quaternized hyperbranched polymer brushes were more effective in preventing both protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion than quaternary ammonium containing poly(cPEA) primary films, more likely because of the higher hydrophilicity and density of cationic groups.

Modelling and Simulation of a Pneumatically Actuated Micropump

Performances of a pneumatically actuated micropump are described. Simulation results combined to an analytical model are used to optimize the micropump design in order to obtain a working frequency of 10 Hz for pneumatic pressure varying between 0.1-6 bar. A pneumatic chamber is placed between a polymer membrane to be actuated, and microchannels connected to a vacuum system. Time for pressurizing cycle and vacuum cycle as function of design parameters and relative pressure are calculated.