Fluorocarbon Plasma-Polymerized Layer Increases the Release Time of Silver Ions and the Antibacterial Activity of Silver-Based Coatings
Linda Bonilla-Gameros,
Pascale Chevallier,
Xavier Delvaux,
L. Astrid Yáñez-Hernández,
Laurent Houssiau,
Xavier Minne,
Vanessa P. Houde,
Andranik Sarkissian,
Diego Mantovani
Affiliations
Linda Bonilla-Gameros
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, (CRC-Tier I), Department of Min-Met-Materials Eng and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Pascale Chevallier
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, (CRC-Tier I), Department of Min-Met-Materials Eng and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Xavier Delvaux
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique, Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium
L. Astrid Yáñez-Hernández
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, (CRC-Tier I), Department of Min-Met-Materials Eng and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Laurent Houssiau
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Spectroscopie Electronique, Namur Institute of Structured Matter, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium
Xavier Minne
Oral Ecology Research Group (GREB), Faculty of Dentistry, Université Laval, 2420 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Vanessa P. Houde
Oral Ecology Research Group (GREB), Faculty of Dentistry, Université Laval, 2420 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, (CRC-Tier I), Department of Min-Met-Materials Eng and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Silver-based antibacterial coatings limit the spread of hospital-acquired infections. Indeed, the use of silver and silver oxide nanoparticles (Ag and AgO NPs) incorporated in amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) as a matrix demonstrates a promising approach to reduce microbial contamination on environmental surfaces. However, its success as an antibacterial coating hinges on the control of Ag+ release. In this sense, if a continuous release is required, an additional barrier is needed to extend the release time of Ag+. Thus, this research investigated the use of a plasma fluoropolymer (CFx) as an additional top layer to elongate Ag+ release and increase the antibacterial activity due to its high hydrophobic nature. Herein, a porous CFx film was deposited on a-C:H containing Ag and AgO NPs using pulsed afterglow low pressure plasma polymerization. The chemical composition, surface wettability and morphology, release profile, and antibacterial activity were analyzed. Overall, the combination of a-C:H:Ag (12.1 at. % of Ag) and CFx film (120.0°, F/C = 0.8) successfully inactivated 88% of E. coli and delayed biofilm formation after 12 h. Thus, using a hybrid approach composed of Ag NPs and a hydrophobic polymeric layer, it was possible to increase the overall antibacterial activity of the coating.
