An investigation on antibacterial properties of medical-grade PVC modified through a multistep physicochemical approach

Abstract

Medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was modified through a multistep physicochemical approach to yield a novel anti-adherent surface against potentially pathogenic bacteria. This was fulfilled via surface activation by coplanar surface dielectric plasma, followed by radical graft copolymerization of a spacer to render a well-defined polymer brush finally coated by biologically active species. Various surface probes together with in vitro biological assay were performed. Up to 85 % and 50% reduction in adherence degrees of gram-negative and positive strains were attained, respectively. Along with bacteria structural characteristics, wettability and surface topography of substrate were established to be principal parameters in adhesion.