Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Melt Processed Poly(propylene) Ag and Cu Nanocomposites by Argon Plasma Treatment. Issue 4 (24th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: España‐Sánchez, Beatriz L.; Ávila‐Orta, Carlos A.; Padilla‐Vaca, Felipe; Neira‐Velázquez, María G.; González‐Morones, Pablo; Rodríguez‐González, José A.; Hernández‐Hernández, Ernesto; Rangel‐Serrano, Ángeles; Barriga‐C., Enrique Díaz; Yate, Luis; Ziolo, Ronald F.
• Is Part Of: Plasma processes and polymers. Volume 11:Issue 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2014-02-24
• Subjects: Plasma polymerization -- Periodicals; Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; Plasma chemistry -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201300152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-8850

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ppap201300152-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Argon surface plasma treatment (APT) of poly(propylene)/silver (PP/Ag) and poly(propylene)/copper (PP/Cu) nanocomposite improves their antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria. Dispersions of PP/Ag and PP/Cu nanocomposites were prepared by sonication assisted melt mixing 0.05, 0.5, and 5 w/w% metal nanoparticle/polymer compositions, and then melt casted to form films that were surface treated with argon plasma. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy showed that APT increase the surface roughness and the exposed nanoparticles. Also, APT produced implanted oxygen and nitrogen species as demonstrated by XPS analysis and enhanced the surface wettability. Antibacterial activity (AA) against <italic>S. aureus</italic> and <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> of the plasma treated NC films was significantly increased in all conditions tested such as NP loading and interaction time; copper NCs were more effective than silver NCs. Surface activation of the PP/Ag and PP/Cu NC films by APT is a viable technique to increase the antibacterial activity of nanocomposites, an important issue in medical and health care applications.<inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgg59wdq97x" content-type="ppap201300152-gra-0001" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></p> </sec> </abstract>