Plasma-assisted surface modification of organic biopolymers to prevent bacterial attachment

Kateryna Bazaka, Mohan V. Jacob, Russell J. Crawford, Elena P. Ivanova

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

241 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite many synthetic biomaterials having physical properties that are comparable or even superior to those of natural body tissues, they frequently fail due to the adverse physiological reactions they cause within the human body, such as infection and inflammation. The surface modification of biomaterials is an economical and effective method by which biocompatibility and biofunctionality can be achieved while preserving the favorable bulk characteristics of the biomaterial, such as strength and inertness. Amongst the numerous surface modification techniques available, plasma surface modification affords device manufacturers a flexible and environmentally friendly process that enables tailoring of the surface morphology, structure, composition, and properties of the material to a specific need. There are a vast range of possible applications of plasma modification in biomaterial applications, however, the focus of this review paper is on processes that can be used to develop surface morphologies and chemical structures for the prevention of adhesion and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria on the surfaces of in-dwelling medical devices. As such, the fundamental principles of bacterial cell attachment and biofilm formation are also discussed. Functional organic plasma polymerised coatings are also discussed for their potential as biosensitive interfaces, connecting inorganic/metallic electronic devices with their physiological environments.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2015-2028
Number of pages14
JournalActa Biomaterialia
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2011
Externally publishedYes

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