Here, we present surface analysis and biocompatibility evaluation of novel composite material based on graphene oxide traded as BioHastalex. The pristine material's surface morphology and surface chemistry were examined by various analytical methods. The BioHastalex with a thin silver layer was subsequently heat treated and characterized, the impact on the material surface wettability and morphology was evaluated. Significant surface roughness and morphology changes were detected at the nanometer scale after heat treatment of Ag-sputtered BioHastalex. The deposition of a thin silver nanolayer had an outstanding effect on BioHastalex's antibacterial properties while still maintaining cell viability (MRC-5, HaCaT). The heat treatment of BioHastalex-Ag led to the formation of regular nanocluster arrays while affecting the Ag concentration on the very surface. The decrease in silver concentration was connected with the length of heat treatment; cells growing on such samples exhibited good viability, and the antibacterial properties were weaker than simply sputtered BioHastalex.

• Keywords
• BioHastalex, Cytocompatibility, Graphene composite, Morphology, Nanostructure, Polymer stability, Surface chemistry, Surface modification,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the formation of honeycomb microstructures and their applications, which include tissue engineering, antibacterial materials, replication processes or sensors. The history of the honeycomb pattern, the first experiments, which mostly involved the breath figure procedure and the improved phase separation, the most recent approach to honeycomb pattern formation, are described in detail. Subsequent surface modifications of the pattern, which involve physical and chemical modifications and further enhancement of the surface properties, are also introduced. Different aspects influencing the polymer formation, such as the substrate influence, a particular polymer or solvent, which may significantly contribute to pattern formation, and thus influence the target structural properties, are also discussed.

• Keywords
• antibacterial properties, biopolymer, breath figure, honeycomb, improved phase separation, morphology, polymer, replication, surface modification, tissue engineering,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Here, we report on the nanopatterning of different aromatic polymer substrates achieved by KrF excimer laser treatment. The conditions for the construction of the laser-induced periodic surface structures, the so-called LIPSS pattern, were established by optimized laser fluence and a number of pulses. The polymer substrates were polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfone (PES), and polystyrene (PS), which were chosen since they are thermally, chemically, and mechanically resistant polymers with high absorption coefficients at the excimer laser wavelength. The surface morphology of the treated substrates was investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the roughness and effective surface area on the modified samples were determined. Elemental concentration was characterized by energy-dispersive (EDX) analysis, surface chemistry was determined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The samples with the formation of LIPSS induced by 10 mJ·cm-2 with 1000, 3000, and 6000 pulses were used for subsequent in vitro cytocompatibility tests using human cells from osteosarcoma (U-2 OS). The LIPSS pattern and its ability of significant cell guidance were confirmed for some of the studied samples. Cell morphology, adhesion, and proliferation were evaluated. The results strongly contribute to the development of novel applications using nanopatterned polymers, e.g., in tissue engineering, cell analysis or in combination with metallization for sensor construction.

• Keywords
• LIPSS, cell guidance, cytocompatibility, elemental analysis, excimer laser, human cells, periodic pattern, polymer,
• MeSH
• Lasers MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Communication MeSH
• Nanostructures * chemistry   MeSH
• Polymers chemistry   MeSH
• Surface Properties MeSH
• Mammals MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Polymers MeSH

This article is focused on the evaluation of surface properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nanotextile and a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether) (PFA) film and their surface activation with argon plasma treatment followed with silver nanoclusters deposition. Samples were subjected to plasma modification for a different time exposure, silver deposition for different time periods, or their combination. As an alternative approach, the foils were coated with poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and silver. The following methods were used to study the surface properties of the polymers: goniometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron microscopy. By combining the aforementioned methods for material surface modification, substrates with antibacterial properties eliminating the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were prepared. Studies of antimicrobial activity showed that PTFE plasma-modified samples coated with PLLA and deposited with a thin layer of Ag had a strong antimicrobial effect, which was also observed for the PFA material against the bacterial strain of S. aureus. Significant antibacterial effect against S. aureus, Proteus sp. and E. coli has been demonstrated on PTFE nanotextile plasma-treated for 240 s, coated with PLLA, and subsequently sputtered with thin Ag layer.

• Keywords
• antibacterial properties, fluorinated ethylene propylene, material morphology, nanostructured surface, plasma treatment, poly(L-lactic) acid, polytetrafluoroethylene, silver nanoclusters,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils were activated with piranha solution and grafted with selected amino compounds (cysteamine, ethylenediamine or chitosan) and then with borane compounds. Changes in their surface properties after particular modification steps were examined using electrokinetic analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), goniometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. Several tests showed that the presence of some amino compounds and one borane cluster significantly improved the antimicrobial properties of the composites investigated. In particular, they exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis but only weak activity against Escherichia coli. The samples modified with amino compounds and subsequently with borane clusters were luminescent under UV lamp irradiation. Therefore, the nanocomposites consisting of (cheap) polymer and (more expensive) borane could be used in luminophore development, medicine or environmental protection.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

While polymers are widely utilized materials in the biomedical industry, they are rarely used in an unmodified state. Some kind of a surface treatment is often necessary to achieve properties suitable for specific applications. There are multiple methods of surface treatment, each with their own pros and cons, such as plasma and laser treatment, UV lamp modification, etching, grafting, metallization, ion sputtering and others. An appropriate treatment can change the physico-chemical properties of the surface of a polymer in a way that makes it attractive for a variety of biological compounds, or, on the contrary, makes the polymer exhibit antibacterial or cytotoxic properties, thus making the polymer usable in a variety of biomedical applications. This review examines four popular methods of polymer surface modification: laser treatment, ion implantation, plasma treatment and nanoparticle grafting. Surface treatment-induced changes of the physico-chemical properties, morphology, chemical composition and biocompatibility of a variety of polymer substrates are studied. Relevant biological methods are used to determine the influence of various surface treatments and grafting processes on the biocompatibility of the new surfaces-mammalian cell adhesion and proliferation is studied as well as other potential applications of the surface-treated polymer substrates in the biomedical industry.

• Keywords
• antimicrobial properties, laser treatment, nanoparticles, nanoscale design, plasma exposure, surface modification, tissue engineering,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH