Plasma-based engineering creates contact-killing, antifouling, drug-
release surfaces
Technology could accelerate antimicrobial material development

Date:
January 4, 2022
Source:
American Institute of Physics
Summary:
Conventional wet-chemistry methods used to create biocidal materials
are complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Researchers present
a tutorial in which they explore a promising alternative called
plasma-enabled surface engineering. The technology relies on
nonequilibrium plasma that produces chemical reactions to change
the properties at the material surface.

Reactions can be manipulated by adjusting electric power for surface
activation, coating deposition, and surface nanostructuring of
virtually any solid material.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The deepening concern over antibiotic-resistant infections, coupled with prevailing hospital-acquired infections from surgical tools, implants,
and heavily touched surfaces, has ramped up antimicrobial material
development in recent years.


========================================================================== Conventional wet-chemistry methods used to create biocidal materials are complex, time-consuming, and expensive. In the Journal of Applied Physics,
by AIP Publishing, researchers from Belgium, Czech Republic, and Italy
present a tutorial in which they explore a promising alternative called plasma-enabled surface engineering.

"Plasma-based engineering is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method, because it doesn't require the use of solvents and can be scaled
up to industrial production relatively straightforwardly," co-author
Anton Nikiforov said.

The technology relies on nonequilibrium plasma, or partially ionized
gas, that produces chemical reactions to change the properties at the
material surface.

The different temperature levels within the plasma -- usually
ionized noble gases, oxygen, or air -- create distinct chemical
pathways. Reactions can be manipulated by adjusting electric power for
surface activation, coating deposition, and surface nanostructuring of virtually any solid material.

Plasma-enabled engineering can create contact-killing, antifouling, and
drug- release surfaces. Contact-killing materials destroy microorganisms through the microscopic spikes that puncture microorganisms on
contact. One study showed plasma-etched black silicon nanopillar
structures are highly bactericidal against a variety of bacteria,
including Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic- resistant bacterium
well known for causing serious skin infection that can also infect the bloodstream, lungs, heart, and bones.

Antifouling materials prevent microorganisms from accumulating on surfaces
to form biofilms and other dangerous microbial environments. Some of these materials are inspired by what nature has already invented, such as the antifouling properties of cicada and dragonfly wings, which are made up
of nanopillars that kill microbes on contact and produce biochemicals
to repel moisture.

Plasma polymerized superhydrophobic thin coatings -- water-repelling
materials inspired by the lotus leaf -- have also been extensively
developed and investigated for their antifouling properties. With the
lack of moisture, microorganisms are prevented from adhering to and
reproducing on these surfaces.

Drug-release surfaces control the release of antimicrobial compounds,
enabling high-dose delivery of antibiotics to targeted locations,
which is useful after surgery. For example, vancomycin, a common
antibiotic, was deposited inside spherical particles. This was achieved
in aerosol-assisted plasma deposition that combines high-energy plasma
and drug aerosols.

Numerous plasma-based methods have been developed to create such
surfaces, including low-pressure and atmospheric pressure plasma etching, plasma polymerization, sputtering, gas aggregation of nanoparticles, aerosol-assisted plasma deposition, and various combinations of the
same methods.

Although plasma-based engineering is sure to accelerate, there are
still challenges to overcome, including the need to better understand
how bacteria stick to surfaces and what exactly is taking place as the microorganisms are destroyed.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anton Nikiforov, Chuanlong Ma, Andrei Choukourov, Fabio
Palumbo. Plasma
technology in antimicrobial surface engineering. Journal of Applied
Physics, 2022; 131 (1): 011102 DOI: 10.1063/5.0066724 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220104123601.htm
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