Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Fluorinated Polymers with Embedded Functionalized Nanodiamonds

Abstract

Environmentally resilient antimicrobial coatings are becoming increasingly required for a wide range of applications. For this purpose, nanocomposite thin films of poly­(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) filled with several types of functionalized nanodiamonds (NDs) were processed by solvent casting. The effects of ND inclusion and functionalization in their morphological, structural, optical, thermal, and electrical properties were evaluated taking into account the type of the nanofiller and a concentration up to 2 wt %. The morphology, structure, and thermal features of the polymer matrix are governed by the processing conditions, and no noticeable changes occurred due to the presence of the ND fillers. The polymer crystallized mainly in the α phase with a crystallinity of ≈60%. In turn, the optical transmittance from 200 to 800 nm and the dielectric constant effectively depended on the ND type and content. The inclusion of the ND particles effectively provided antimicrobial properties to the films, which depended on the ND functionalization. This study thus shows that the incorporation of functionalized NDs into PVDF allows the development of antimicrobial coatings with tailorable optical and dielectric properties, which could be of great importance to face nowadays pandemic crisis scenario.

Exploring electroactive microenvironments in polymer-based nanocomposites to sensitize bacterial cells to low-dose embedded silver nanoparticles

“…The same strategies have been now used to develop antimicrobial surfaces and to tailor bacterial cell growth and biofilm formation [17]. The use of electroactive materials in combination with antimicrobial compounds has been scarcely explored [60][61][62] but the synergetic effect has not been convincingly proven under static and dynamic conditions on polymer based composites suitable to be applied in a large variety of surfaces, shapes and morphologies, and therefore, with a large range of possible application environments.…”

Ternary Fiber Mats of PVDF-HFP/Cellulose/LiFe5O8 Nanoparticles with Enhanced Electric, Magnetoelectric, and Antibacterial Properties: A Promising Approach for Magnetic and Electric Field-Responsive Antibacterial Coatings

“…PVDF and its copolymers are emerging as a suitable substitution for other polymers in biomedical fields; their ability to change shape and size according to external stimuli enables diverse possibilities in various bioapplications. − Ribeiro has significantly contributed to the progress of electroactive materials in biomedical applications, introducing innovative materials and approaches for active tissue engineering applications. , According to previous reports, electroactive environments can influence microbial activities. − One of the first reports on the effect of PVDF-based piezoelectric membranes on bacterial cell growth was reported by Carvalho et al, which depicts the piezoelectric stimulus-responsive growth of G. positive and G. negative bacteria . Fernandes et al.…”

Environmentally Friendlier Printable Conductive and Piezoresistive Sensing Materials Compatible with Conformable Electronics

“…In this way, three different polymers have been used, with different overall characteristics in order to tailor materials for specific application areas. The electroactive PVDF is a hydrophobic thermoplastic fluoropolymer with high chemical, mechanical, thermal, and UV radiation resistance, , being interesting for sensor applications. PVDF is commonly processed from solution in dimethylformamide (DMF); however, due to its toxicity, solvents with lower noxiousness must be used, making dimethyl propylene urea (DMPU) a greener alternative .…”