STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS ADHESION TO FILMS DEPOSITED FROM HYDROXYETHYLMETHACRYLATE PLASMA

The adhesion of S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 strain on polystyrene (PS) d isks coated by films deposited from hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA) p lasma was evaluated and compared to adhesion on untreated PS and oxyge n-plasma-treated PS. Films were deposited keeping constant the monomer flow rate while the discharge power ranged from 40-100 W in order to obtain coating with different surface properties. Surface chemistry, e nergetics, and morphology were evaluated by Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), contact angle measurement, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), respectively. Bacteria adhered more to the plasma-de posited or plasma-treated surfaces than to untreated PS, but no signif icant difference was recorded among the samples obtained using differe nt deposition conditions. According to the surface energetic analysis, plasma-deposited and plasma-treated surfaces bear a strong Lewis-base character, so it is possible to hypothesize a marked contribution of electron donor-electron acceptor interactions to the mechanism(s) cont rolling adhesion between synthetic and bacterial surfaces. (C) 1996 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.