Direct covalent attachment of silver nanoparticles on radical-rich plasma polymer films for antibacterial applications

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. B, Materials for biology and medicine Materials for biology and medicine, 2018-10, Vol.6 (37), p.5845-5853
• Main Authors: Akhavan, Behnam, Bakhshandeh, Sadra, Najafi-Ashtiani, Hamed, Fluit, Ad C, Boel, Edwin, Vogely, Charles, van der Wal, Bart C. H, Zadpoor, Amir A, Weinans, Harrie, Hennink, Wim E, Bilek, Marcela M, Amin Yavari, Saber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial agents; Antibacterial materials; Antibiotics; Biocompatibility; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Chemical bonds; Covalence; Electronic implants; Fabrication; Immobilization; Infections; Nanoparticles; Organic chemistry; Orthopaedic implants; Osseointegration; Peptides; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Polymer coatings; Polymer films; Polymerization; Silver; Sodium; Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Sodium lauryl sulfate; Solid surfaces; Substrates; Surgical implants; Time dependence; Toxicity; Transplants & implants; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2050-750X; 2050-7518
• DOI: 10.1039/c8tb01363b

Prevention and treatment of biomaterial-associated infections (BAI) are imperative requirements for the effective and long-lasting function of orthopedic implants. Surface-functionalization of these materials with antibacterial agents, such as antibiotics, nanoparticles and peptides, is a promising approach to combat BAI. The well-known silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in particular, although benefiting from strong and broad-range antibacterial efficiency, have been frequently associated with mammalian cell toxicity when physically adsorbed on biomaterials. The majority of irreversible immobilization techniques employed to fabricate AgNP-functionalized surfaces are based on wet-chemistry methods. However, these methods are typically substrate-dependent, complex, and time-consuming. Here we present a simple and dry strategy for the development of polymeric coatings used as platforms for the direct, linker-free covalent attachment of AgNPs onto solid surfaces using ion-assisted plasma polymerization. The resulting coating not only exhibits long-term antibiofilm efficiency against adherent Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), but also enhances osteoblast adhesion and proliferation. High resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), before and after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) washing, confirms covalent bonding. The development of such silver-functionalized surfaces through a simple, plasma-based process holds great promise for the fabrication of implantable devices with improved tissue-implant integration and reduced biomaterial associated infections. Ion-assisted plasma polymerization for single-step, covalent immobilization of silver nanoparticles on surfaces.