Anti-infection silver nanoparticle immobilized biomaterials facilitated by argon plasma grafting technology

Abstract

Many research groups have attained slow, persistent, continuous release of silver ions through careful experimental design using existing methods. Such methods effectively kill planktonic bacteria and therefore prevent surface adhesion of pathogens. However, the resultant modified coatings cannot provide long-term antibacterial efficacy due to sustained anti-microbial release. In this study, the anti-infection activity of AgNP immobilized biomaterials was evaluated, facilitated by argon plasma grafting technology and activated by bacterial colonization. The modified materials generated in this study showed excellent specificity and were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative biofilm forming bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. The anti-infection biomaterials developed in this study demonstrate several attractive advantages in comparison to traditional anti-bacterial surfaces loaded with antibiotics or other types of antibacterial agents and include (1) broad spectrum of activity against antibiotic resistant bacteria, (2) the unlikelihood of bacterial resistance, (3) specificity, (4) biocompatibility, and (5) stability.

Plasma-Initiated Graft Polymerization of Acrylic Acid onto Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide as a Platform for Immobilization of Water-Oxidation Catalysts

“…The system was evacuated to 360 mTorr as argon gas was introduced to the chamber at a flow rate of 0.068 m 3 h –1 . The chamber pressure was subsequently maintained at 360 mTorr. − A radio frequency generator was supplied with a frequency of 13.56 MHz and had an output of up to 100 W for ca. 5 min.…”

“…Plasma technology has been utilized as an effective tool for the functionalization of polymeric material or synthesis of nanomaterials on transparent metal oxide films such as TiO 2 and to introduce desirable functional properties. − Plasma-modified FTO (fluorine doped tin-oxide) electrodes with cobalt selenide nanomaterials have been shown to improve the performance in dye-sensitized solar cells . This has been attributed to the increase in surface hydrophilicity, nanoparticle packing density, higher dye loading, and improved electron transport and reduced recombination.…”

“…Moreover, a polymer can be grafted onto a plasma-activated surface from a desired monomer resulting in self-assembled polymer brushes, which is known as the “Grafting-From” technique (Scheme ). − , Under the appropriate experimental conditions, reactive sites produced from the argon plasma treatment can initiate a free-radical polymerization reaction forming covalently bound polymer brushes onto the substrate upon addition of an unsaturated monomer. − , With the “Grafting-From” approach, polymer brush layers can be tailored to possess specific physical and chemical properties of nanostructures. − In addition, the grafting process can be easily controlled, cost effective, and eco-friendly as chemical initiators are not required. Some of us have previously reported the use of the argon plasma-initiated grafting technology for the construction of polymer brushes on biomaterial surfaces. − In the present work, we describe for the first time, the use of the “Grafting-From” approach for plasma-initiated graft polymerization of acrylic acid, which contains terminal carbon–carbon double bonds, onto FTO surfaces (Scheme ).…”

“… − , Under the appropriate experimental conditions, reactive sites produced from the argon plasma treatment can initiate a free-radical polymerization reaction forming covalently bound polymer brushes onto the substrate upon addition of an unsaturated monomer. − , With the “Grafting-From” approach, polymer brush layers can be tailored to possess specific physical and chemical properties of nanostructures. − In addition, the grafting process can be easily controlled, cost effective, and eco-friendly as chemical initiators are not required. Some of us have previously reported the use of the argon plasma-initiated grafting technology for the construction of polymer brushes on biomaterial surfaces. − In the present work, we describe for the first time, the use of the “Grafting-From” approach for plasma-initiated graft polymerization of acrylic acid, which contains terminal carbon–carbon double bonds, onto FTO surfaces (Scheme ). The design and construction of plasma-grafted poly­(acrylic acid) (PAA) assemblies in neutral aqueous solutions were further studied as a platform for the immobilization of underivatized benchmark Ru­(II) WOCs [Ru­(tpy) (bpy) (H 2 O)] 2+ ( Ru–Cat1 ; tpy = 2,2′:6′2″–terpyridine; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) , and [Ru­(Mebimpy) (bpy) (H 2 O)] 2+ ( Ru–Cat2 ; (Mebimpy = 2,6-bis­(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)­pyridine) ,, in addition to the Ru­(II) polypyridine chromophore [Ru­(bpy) 3 ] 2+ ( Ru – C3 ) (Figure ).…”

Injectable hyaluronic acid-based antibacterial hydrogel adorned with biogenically synthesized AgNPs-decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

“…AgNPs are promising agents in overcoming the bacterial infection with minimal chance of bacterial resistance due to minuscule concentration of AgNPs. Ambi and colleagues synthesized AgNPs with antibacterial activity (Ambi et al 2018). Bacterial colonization stimulates the activation of these AgNPs and it was found that they can effectively suppress the growth of Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli.…”