Proposing an Affordable Plasma Device for Polymer Surface Modification and Microbial Inactivation
William Chiappim,
Felipe Vicente de Paula Kodaira,
Gisele Fátima Soares de Castro,
Diego Morais da Silva,
Thayna Fernandes Tavares,
Ana Carla de Paula Leite Almeida,
Bruno Henrique Silva Leal,
Antje Quade,
Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito,
Konstantin Georgiev Kostov
Affiliations
William Chiappim
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Felipe Vicente de Paula Kodaira
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Gisele Fátima Soares de Castro
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Diego Morais da Silva
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Thayna Fernandes Tavares
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Ana Carla de Paula Leite Almeida
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Bruno Henrique Silva Leal
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Antje Quade
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology—INP, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Konstantin Georgiev Kostov
Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
This study proposes an affordable plasma device that utilizes a parallel-plate dielectric barrier discharge geometry with a metallic mesh electrode, featuring a straightforward 3D-printed design. Powered by a high-voltage supply adapted from a cosmetic plasma device, it operates on atmospheric air, eliminating the need for gas flux. Surface modification of polyethylene treated with this device was characterized and showed that the elemental composition after 15 min of plasma treatment decreased the amount of C to ~80 at% due to the insertion of O (~15 at%). Tested against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, the device achieved a reduction of over 99% in microbial load with exposure times ranging from 1 to 10 min. Simultaneously, the Vero cell viability remained consistently high, namely between 91% and 96% across exposure times. These results highlight this device’s potential for the surface modification of materials and various infection-related applications, boasting affordability and facilitating effective antimicrobial interventions.
