Study of Bacterial Cell Colonization on Plasma Induced Bio‐Adoptable Polymer Nanocomposites Membranes

Summary Polymers are receiving great interest for synthesis of biomedical devices but to use them for any biomedical application they must show biocompatibility. In this work we have enhanced bio-compatibility of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) using TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and plasma irradiation. Spherical shape, 15–20 nm TiO2 NPs were synthesized using wet chemical method and used to prepare polymer nano-composite (PNC) membranes of 20 micron via solution casting method. Further these membranes were irradiated by low temperature glow discharge Oxygen (O2) ion plasma. Surface modifications produced by nanoparticle mixing and plasma irradiation were characterized by Optical Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Results show increase in surface roughness and porosity thus changes surface energy and surface reactivity that helps to enhance selective bacterial growth on surface of the polymer nanocomposite membranes. The results are described in the paper.