Electronics Materials Lab, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
Physics Department, College of Science, Ramadi, Anbar University, Ramadi, 11, Iraq.
Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 12;9(1):5973. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42211-z.
Nanocomposites offer attractive and cost-effective thin layers with superior properties for antimicrobial, drug delivery and microelectronic applications. This work reports single-step plasma-enabled synthesis of polymer/zinc nanocomposite thin films via co-deposition of renewable geranium essential oil-derived polymer and zinc nanoparticles produced by thermal decomposition of zinc acetylacetonate. The chemical composition, surfaces characteristics and antimicrobial performance of the designed nanocomposite were systematically investigated. XPS survey proved the presence of ZnO in the matrix of formed polymers at 10 W and 50 W. SEM images verified that the average size of a ZnO nanoparticle slightly increased with an increase in the power of deposition, from approximately 60 nm at 10 W to approximately 80 nm at 50 W. Confocal scanning laser microscopy images showed that viability of S. aureus and E.coli cells significantly reduced on surfaces of ZnO/polymer composites compared to pristine polymers. SEM observations further demonstrated that bacterial cells incubated on Zn/Ge 10 W and Zn/Ge 50 W had deteriorated cell walls, compared to pristine polymers and glass control. The release of ZnO nanoparticles from the composite thin films was confirmed using ICP measurements, and can be further controlled by coating the film with a thin polymeric layer. These eco-friendly nanocomposite films could be employed as encapsulation coatings to protect relevant surfaces of medical devices from microbial adhesion and colonization.
纳米复合材料具有吸引力和成本效益，可为抗菌、药物输送和微电子应用提供卓越的性能的薄层。这项工作报道了通过热分解锌乙酰丙酮原位合成的可再生香叶醇衍生聚合物和氧化锌纳米粒子的共沉积，在一步等离子体作用下合成聚合物/氧化锌纳米复合材料薄膜。系统研究了设计的纳米复合材料的化学组成、表面特性和抗菌性能。XPS 调查证明，在 10W 和 50W 的形成聚合物基质中存在 ZnO。SEM 图像证实，随着沉积功率的增加，氧化锌纳米粒子的平均尺寸略有增加，从 10W 时的约 60nm 增加到 50W 时的约 80nm。共聚焦扫描激光显微镜图像显示，与原始聚合物相比，在 ZnO/聚合物复合材料表面上，金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌细胞的活力显著降低。SEM 观察进一步表明，与原始聚合物和玻璃对照相比，在 Zn/Ge 10W 和 Zn/Ge 50W 上孵育的细菌细胞的细胞壁受损。使用 ICP 测量证实了从复合薄膜中释放出的氧化锌纳米粒子，并且可以通过用薄聚合物层涂覆薄膜来进一步控制。这些环保型纳米复合材料薄膜可用作封装涂层，以保护医疗器械的相关表面免受微生物粘附和定植。
