Romanian Research contract No: 31/2016
PlasmaTex partners
Country: Flanders/Belgium
Research Unit of plasma technology, Ghent University (Coordinator)
Responsible: Prof. Christophe Leys
website: www.ugent.be
Country: Flanders/Belgium
CENTEXBEL
Responsible: Dr. Myriam Vanneste
website: www.centexbel.be
Country: Portugal
Centre for Textile Science and Technology, University of Minho
Responsible: Dr. Andrea Zille
website: www.2c2t.uminho.pt
Country: Slovenia
Jozef Stefan Institute
Responsible: Prof. Uros Cvelbar
website: www.ijs.si/ijsw/JSI
Country: Slovenia
Smart Com d.o.o
Responsible: MSc Igor Košir
website: www.smart-com.si/
Country: Romania
National Institute for Lasers, Plasma & Radiation Physics (INFLPR)
Responsible: Dr. Gheorghe Dinescu
website: www.inflpr.ro
Country: Romania
S.C. DAVO STAR IMPEX S.R.L
Responsible: Eng. Daniela Anton
website: www.davo-clothing.eu
Project description
Abstract
In the PlasmaTex project a new class of antibacterial coatings for medical textiles and plastics will be developed. The proposed approach is to use a layered coating with a layer containing Ag nanoparticles and an additional barrier layer for controlled release of the antibacterial agent. The coatings are deposited by atmospheric pressure plasma, a versatile technique that allows producing uniform high quality coatings on almost any material.
The research issues that will be addressed in the project include the detailed physical chemistry of the plasma-assisted deposition process and the release mechanism of the antibacterial agent through the barrier layer. Advanced plasma, surface and microbiological diagnostics will be deployed to establish a relationship between process parameters and coating performance. The gained knowledge will be applied to define a scalable coating methodology that yields nanocomposite coatings with superior antibacterial efficiencies.
Objectives and expected results
The main objective of the project is to investigate new class of antibacterial coatings for medical materials. It focuses on plasma assisted deposition of composite nano-coatings on textiles and plastics with possibility to control the release of the antibacterial agent by the use of barrier layers. The work oriented along the value chain focuses on medical textiles with improved antibacterial properties efficiencies and on the up-scaling of environmental friendly and energy effective plasma process. This is complemented by a range of activities from strategic basic research of plasma deposition process and investigation of new class of coatings to tests of new materials and their properties and up-scale of the system.
On the way to achieving the goals of PlasmaTex, a number of scientific objectives can be identified:
1. Investigation of the polymers matrix used for the Ag-composites preparation by variation of precursor: chitosan, hexamethyldisiloxane, poly(vinyl alcohol), mixtures
2. Plasma deposition of Ag containing composites with variation of Ag content on medical grade plastics: polyethylenethereftalat, polyamide, and polyurethane
3. Plasma deposition of nano-composites on medical textiles: woven and non-woven fiber based fabrics
4. Investigation of barrier layers deposition with controllable thickness of 5-50 nm on top of composite coatings
5. Analysis of chemical and structural properties of the deposited coatings
6. Effect of Ag content and presence of the barrier layer on release of Ag ions from the coatings
7. Investigation of mechanical, functional and antibacterial properties of the plasma modified textiles and plastics
8. Adaptations of the system to industrial requirements (safety issues, automation, deposition control, speed of the process, stability of work)
9. Up-scale of the system (reel-to-reel process, 65 cm width) with evaluation of the performance and costs estimations
Successes of PlasmaTex project will contribute to deeper understanding of nano-composite coating properties and wider adoption of a plasma deposition technique for medical materials manufacturing, as an alternative to used nowadays wet chemistry processes having numerous drawbacks.
Romanian contribution
The role of National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR) in the project
According to its expertise, INFLPR partner will focus on investigation of plasma sources operation. It will provide plasma diagnostics and electrical diagnostics of the device, measurements of real active power dissipated in discharge, method of ignition and control of plasma and automation of the system. It will contribute also to deposition process characterization and optimization (precursor injection, uniformity, content of active agent).
Existing equipment
Plasma sources and equipment for deposition and treatment at atmospheric pressure
With respect to development of cold atmospheric pressure plasma sources, both in axial or planar geometry, using Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) or Discharge with Bare Electrodes (DBE) types please visit our website http://plasmat.inflpr.ro/laboratory.html. These plasma sources are integrated into experimental setups allowing modification of the surface properties of materials and deposition of polymeric layers, including nanoparticles. For treatment of large and complex shaped samples, these setups include x-y translation stages.
Characterization equipment
For plasma sources characterization, at NILPRP are available spectral and electrical measurements.
For characterization of plasma processed materials are available Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and profilometry measurements.
Added value provided to the project by INFLPR partner
The Consortium will benefit on the knowledge acquired by INFLPR in the field of design, characterization and application of atmospheric pressure plasma sources. The expertise of INFLPR in sources for surface modification, for improving wettability and preparation of polymer surface for interaction with biological cells is complimentary to other partners of the PlasmaTex. The INFLPR team comes also with a large experience in electrical characterization and control which is beneficial for the processing systems. The benefit of INFLPR will be to enlarge the application domain and to find a channel to go toward the textile market, very important aspect for a Romanian player, since Romania has an important textile sector.
The research group involved in the PlasmaTex project, namely Plasma Processes, Materials and Surfaces (PPMS) Group is part of the Low Temperature Plasma Physics Department. It consists of 15 members and has extensive experience in:
1) Development of non-thermal (cold) atmospheric pressure plasma sources (radiofrequency cold plasma jets, with planar or axial geometry);
2) Surface modification, deposition of films and composites by plasma for biomedical applications and engineering (cleaning, wettability modification, roughening of polymers, membranes, textiles, nanostructured surfaces for interaction with cells);
3) Plasma synthesis, functionalization and applications of nanomaterials (carbon nanowalls, vertical graphenes, nanofibers, nanoparticles, etc.);
4) Plasma-chemical processes in gas and liquid phase for degradation of pollutants, bio-applications and material functionalization;
5) Process development and diagnostic of plasma processing.
More details and information about NILPRP and our group (PPMS) are found at the following addresses: http://www.inflpr.ro respectively http://plasmat.inflpr.ro.
Project status (as at December 2018)
Stage I. Design, elaboration and demonstration of the functionality of the atmospheric pressure RF plasma source for antibaterial coatings
Period: 1-31/12/2016
Deliverables. Research report on the functionality of the RF plasma source at atmospheric pressure.
Stage II. Atmospheric pressure RF plasma deposition of multilayer coatings; morphological and compositional characterization of obtained materials
Period: 31/12/2017
Deliverables. Research report regarding physics and chemical properties of multilayer coatings obtained in plasma
Stage III. Optimization of atmospheric pressure plasma deposition process of multilayer coatings to obtain antibacterial medical materials and participation in scaling of continuous operation plasma system with roller-drum system
Period: 31/12/2018
Deliverables. The study of wettability properties of textiles treated by plasma in different conditions, attainment of plasma system compatible with the processing of large surfaces, by 65 cm width, as well as the demonstration of the possibility to realize a treatment system of materials in continuum flux, by integrating of the plasma source in a roller-drum system.
Disemination (as at December 2018)
Organization of meetings and workshops
a) 2nd Project meeting PlasmaTex, 7-9 November 2016, Magurele Bucharest, Romania Venue: National Library for Physics, Magurele, Romania
b) 1st Workshop on Plasma Coatings for Medical Applications, 17th June 2017, Magurele Bucharest, Romania Venue: Conference Hall IFIN-HH
c) 4th Project meeting PlasmaTex, 17th June 2017, Magurele Bucharest, Romania Venue: Conference Hall IFIN-HH
d) Project meeting PlasmaTex, 5-6 February 2018, Gent, Belgia
e) Project meeting PlasmaTex, 2-5 September 2018, Guimaraes, Portugal
Visits in the laboratories
Between November 7-9 2016 a working visit of the project partners at INFLPR center was organized. At this visit participated the following romanian and foreign researchers:
o Anton Nikiforov: CO - University of Gent (UGent) Belgium
o Irina Kuchakova: CO - University of Gent (UGent) Belgium
o Mike de Vrieze: P2 – Centexbel, Belgium
o Pedro Souto: P3 – University of Minho (UMinho), Portugal
o Andrea Zille: P3 – University of Minho (UMinho), Portugal
o Martina Modic: P4 – Jozef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia
o Gheorghe Dinescu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
o Bogdana Mitu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
o Eusebiu Rosini Ioniță: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
o Maria Daniela Ioniță: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
o Veronica Sătulu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
o Daniela Anton: P7-SC Davo Romania
o Doru Anton: P7-SC Davo Romania
Between 2017 June 15 - 20 was organized in Magurele the 17th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLASMA PHYSICS AND APPLICATIONS.With this ocasion, within PlasmaTex project, 1st Workshop on Plasma Coatings for Medical Applications was organized, co-jointly with University of Ghent, Belgium. Also, in this context was organized 4th Project meeting of PlasmaTex project, with public character. At this workshop participated the following romanian and foreign researchers:
- Anton Nikiforov: CO - University of Gent (UGent) Belgium
- Christophe Leys: CO - University of Gent (UGent) Belgium
- Mike de Vrieze: P2 – Centexbel, Belgium
- Martina Modic: P4 – Jozef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia
- David Duday: - L Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxembourg
- Azadeh Valinattaj Omran: - Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 8235, Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, F-75005 Paris, France
- Matteo Gherardi: - Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- James Walsh: - Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, UK
- Liubov Kravets: - Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
- Vera Elinson: - Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
- Gheorghe Dinescu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Bogdana Mitu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Eusebiu Rosini Ioniță: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Maria Daniela Ioniță: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Veronica Sătulu: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Lavinia Carpen: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Daniel Stoica: P6 – INFLPR, Romania
- Radu Anton: P7-SC Davo Romania
A working visit of the laboratories from the National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics was made, where achievements of Plasma Processes, Materials and Surfaces research group, involved PlasmaTex project, were presented. During this visit, some demonstrative experiments were made which illustrated the main activities of the research group. Following this presentation, new co-jointly experiments and scientific approaches were proposed. The base for new projects, including PPMS research group, was created.
Project publications 2016-2018
ISI papers
E.C. Stancu, M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, M. Teodorescu, M.T. Radu, G. Dinescu, Processing of Polyvinyl Chloride Surfaces with Atmospheric Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharges for Urology Applications, Romanian Journal of Physics, accepted 2018
I. Kuchakova, M.D. Ionita, R.E. Ionita, B. Mitu, G. Dinescu, M. De Vrieze, M. Modic, U. Cvelbar, A. Zille, C. Leys, A. Nikiforov, Atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of organosilicon thin films, submitted to Thin Solid Films, (2018)
A.I. Ribeiro, M. Modic, U. Cvelbar, G. Dinescu, B. Mitu, A. Nikiforov, C. Leys, I. Kuchakova, M. Vanneste, P. Heyse, M. De Vrieze, N. Carneiro, A.P. Souto, A. Zille, Double dielectric barrier (DBD) plasma-assisted deposition of chemical stabilized nanoparticles on polyamide 6,6 and polyester fabrics, IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 254 (2018) 102010
A. Nikiforov, C. Leys, I. Kuchakova, M. Vanneste, P. Heyse, M. De Vrieze, A. Zille, G. Dinescu, B. Mitu, M. Modic, U. Cvelbar, Plasma Deposition of Antibacterial Nano-Coatings on Polymeric Materials, ECS transactions, 77 (3) ISSN 1938-6737 (2017) (online) pag 53 – 61
L. Wang, G. Dinescu, X. Deng, E.R. Ionita, C. Leys, A. Nikiforov, Mechanisms of sustaining a radio-frequency atmospheric pressure planar discharge, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 26 (2017) 075012 (13pp)
List of contributions to conferences (invited, oral, poster)
1) M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, B. Mitu, I. Kuchakova, A. Nikiforov, G. Dinescu Antimicrobial surfaces obtained by atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of Ag-HMDSO based nanocomposites, European Materials Research Society, May 22-26, 2017, Strasbourg, Franta, – prezentare poster
2) M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, M. Modic, B. Mitu, A. Nikiforov, C Leys, G. Dinescu Antibacterial textiles based on ag nanoparticles and hmdso deposited by atmospheric pressure rf plasma jet, 8th TEXTEH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, October 19-20, 2017, Bucharest, Romania – prezentare orală, premiată de organizatori cu diplomă de excelență
3) M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, M. De Vrieze, A. Zille, M. Modic, B. Mitu, A. Nikiforov, C Leys, G. Dinescu Antibacterial nanocomposites based on Ag NPs and HMDSO deposited by atmospheric pressure plasma, 23rd International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry Montréal, Canada, from July 30th to August 4th, 2017 – prezentare poster
4) M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, M. De Vrieze, A. Zille, M. Modic, B. Mitu, A. Nikiforov, C Leys, G. Dinescu Antibacterial nanocomposites based on Ag NPs and HMDSO deposited by atmospheric pressure plasma, Proceedings of 23rd International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry, 4 pages available online http://www.ispc-conference.org/ispcproc/ispc23/793.pdf
5)B. Mitu, M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, A. Nikiforov, M. De Vrieze, A. Zille, M. Modic, C Leys, G. Dinescu Atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of antibacterial nanocomposites, 8th International Workshop on Polymer-Metal Nanocomposites, 12-15 September 2017, Prague, Czech Republic – prezentare orală
6) E.R. Ionita, G. Dinescu, M.D. Ionita, B. Mitu, A.Y. Nikiforov, C. Leys, I. Kuchakova Characterization of a cylindrical shaped plasma jet with axisymmetric injection of precursors, 17th International Conference on Plasma Physics and Applications, Magurele, Bucharest, ROMANIA -2017, Book of abstracts, page 40 – oral presentation
7) G. Dinescu, E. R. Ionita, A. Yu Nikiforov, M. D. Ionita, M. Morar, C. Leys The effects produced by two types of atmospheric pressure plasma sources on polymeric surfaces, 15th International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering, September 12 - 16, 2016, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germania - PO1065 - poster presentation
8) G. Dinescu, E.R. Ionita, M. Teodorescu, C. Stancu, A. Lazea, S. Vizireanu, B. Mitu, T. Acsente, V. Satulu, S. D. Stoica, V. Marascu Generation, properties and applications of atmospheric pressure radiofrequency plasma jets, 6th International Conference on Advanced Plasma Technologies (ICAPT-6) and Workshop on Industrial Application of Plasma Solutions, December 11th – 18th, 2016 - invited lecture
9) V. Satulu, B. Mitu, I. Sarbu, D. Pelinescu, S. Somacescu, G. Dinescu Plasma-induced graft polymerization of silver nanoparticles dispersed in ethylene glycol onto polymeric foils for antimicrobial surfaces, Proceedings of 23rd ESCAMPIG, Bratislava, Slovakia 12-16 iulie 2016, ISBN 979-10-96389-02-5
10) M.D. Ionita, E.R. Ionita, V. Satulu, A. Lazea – Stoyanova, B. Mitu, G. Dinescu, M. Modic, U. Cvelbar, I. Kuchakova, A. Nikiforov, Y. Leys, A. Zille, M. De Vrieze, Atmospheric pressure plasma deposition of antimicrobial coatings using ZnO nanoparticles embedded in organosilicon films deposited on textile surfaces, E-MRS Spring Meeting, Strasbourg, France – poster presentation - L.12.25
11) V. Satulu, B. Mitu, M.C. Chifiriuc, G. Dinescu, Synthesis and characterization of materials with combined antifouling and antimicrobial activity, E-MRS 2018 Spring Meeting – poster - L.11.28
12) L.G. Carpen, T. Acsente, D. I. Savu, M. A. Acasandrei, E. Matei, G. Dinescu The interaction of tungsten dust with human skin cells, 4th German-Czech workshop on nanomaterials, 10th - 11th May 2018, České Budějovice, Czech Republic - oral presentation
13) V. Satulu, B. Mitu, A.M. Holban, L.M. Ditu, C. Curutiu, E. Matei, M.C. Chifiriuc, G. Dinescu Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite materials with combined antifouling and antimicrobial activity, The Ann. Int. Conf. of the RSBMB, Bucharest, September 5-7, 2018 – poster presentation - P 52
