Antibacterial, mechanical and surface properties of Ag-DLC films prepared by dual PLD for medical applications.

Silver doped diamond-like carbon layers were deposited by dual pulsed laser deposition using two KrF excimer lasers. The concentration of Ag, determined by XPS and WDS, moved from zero to ~10at%. We found that the sp2/sp3 ratio, film roughness and the number of droplets (SEM and AFM) increased with increasing silver concentration. The sp3 content measurement (XPS) was influenced by ion cluster surface sputtering and varied from 71.0% (undoped DLC) to 36.2% (for 9.3at% Ag). Transmission was measured on the scale from 200nm to 1100nm, and decreased with increasing silver content. An increase of Ag content has an effect on the decrease of the storage modulus (E') and the indentation hardness (HIT). The highest values HIT=51.9GPa and E'=270.6GPa were measured on a sample with 0at% Ag. The lowest values HIT=26.0GPa and E'=180.2GPa were measured on a sample of 9.3at% Ag. Film adhesion was studied using the scratch test and was up to 20.8N for the highest Ag concentration. The contact angle (CA) measurements for water showed that the CA of Ag-DLC films was higher (78°-98°) that of DLC film (77°). The surface free energy of DLC and of Ag-DLC was about 40mJ·m-2. Antibacterial properties were studied using gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The antibacterial effects increased with the Ag concentration and were ~99.9% after 24h for the layers with the highest silver content (9.3at%). Our results demonstrate that the Ag-doped DLC films are potentially useful biomaterials having both good mechanical properties and antimicrobial characteristics. PRIME NOVELTY STATEMENT: Unique manufacturing technique dual pulsed laser deposition was applied on hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon doped by Ag including topological, physical and antibacterial characterization.

Electron spectroscopy of corrugated solid surfaces.

This paper reviews work done of the influence of non-ideal surface topography on electron spectral intensities of surface-sensitive electron spectroscopic methods: primarily X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and concise Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), electron energy loss spectroscopy in the reflection mode (REELS), and elastic peak electron spectroscopy (EPES). Several attempts to solve the problem are mentioned, where (i) the effect of surface roughness is corrected using a single parameter, (ii) computer simulations based on a model of surface roughness composed of regular geometrical units are used for electron spectral intensity calculations, and finally, (iii) a semi-empirical method based on careful surface mapping of analyzed sample by atomic force microscopy (AFM) is discussed in greater detail. The first approach was found to be rather simple to properly include any complex surface topography. The second technique can help us to understand surface topography related phenomena. The latter method, suitable for arbitrary rough solid surfaces covered by conformal overlayer(s), can be incorporated in current quantitative procedures valid for ideally flat surfaces.

Remarks on some reference materials for applications in elastic peak electron spectroscopy.

The quantification of results of electron spectroscopies, AES and XPS, requires knowledge of the inelastic mean free path (IMFP) of signal electrons in solids. This parameter determines the surface sensitivity of both techniques. There are two methods of determining the IMFPs that provide these parameters in agreement with the definition: (i) calculations based on the experimental optical data, and (ii) calculations based on measurements of the electron elastic backscattering intensity. The latter method requires the use of some reference material for which the IMFP is known. In 1999, an extensive analysis of the published IMFPs has been performed; the results indicated that there is a very good agreement between the calculated and measured IMFPs for four elemental solids: Ni, Cu, Ag and Au. The averaged IMFPs for these elements are known under the name of the recommended IMFPs. However, no preference among these four elements has been established. In the present work, an attempt is made to select an element for which the recommended IMFPs result in the best agreement between the calculated and measured intensities of elastic electron backscattering. For this purpose, the elastic backscattering intensity has been measured at eight electron energies varying from 200 to 1500 eV. At each energy, the intensity was measured over a wide range of emission angles from 35 degrees to 74 degrees . The experiments were accompanied with Monte Carlo calculations of the elastic backscattering probability for the same energies and experimental configurations. It has been found, from comparison, that the best agreement is observed for Au, and this element is thus recommended as the reference material. It has been shown that the shape of the emission angle dependence of the elastic backscattering intensity is noticeably influenced by the surface energy losses.

A plasma polymerization technique to overcome cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections.

Prosthetic devices, mainly shunts, are frequently used for temporary or permanent drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. The pathogenesis of shunt infection is a very important problem in modern medicine and generally this is characterized by staphylococcal adhesion to the cerebrospinal fluid shunt surfaces. In this paper, the prevention of the attachment of test microorganism Staphylococcus epidermidis on the cerebrospinal fluid shunt surfaces by 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) precursor modification in the plasma polymerization system, is reported. Different plasma polymerization conditions (RF discharge power 10-20-30 W, exposure time 5-10-15 min) were employed during the surface modification. The surface chemistry and topology of unmodified and modified shunts was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Also, static contact angle measurements were performed to state the change of surface hydrophilicity. All samples were tested in vitro with Staphylococcus epidermidis. A plasma-polymerized HEMA film (PP HEMA) was found to be an alternative simple method to decrease the microorganism attachment and create bacterial anti-fouling surfaces. The attachment of the model microorganism Staphylococcus epidermidis on the shunt surface modified by PP HEMA at 20 W and 15 min was reduced 62.3% if compared to the unmodified control surface of the shunt.

Antimicrobial properties of aromatic compounds of plant origin.

The antimicrobial action of 11 compounds involving guaiacyl- and syringyl-like structures (low-molecular-weight part of lignin), gallic acid and its derivatives, cinnamic acid and its derivatives, veratric acid, anisic acid and crotonic acid (a total of 25 compounds) against bacteria, yeast-like organisms and protozoa was examined. Aromatic compounds modified in the C-side chain and aldehydes were effective preferentially against Trichomonas vaginalis, whereas against bacteria and yeast-like organisms eugenol was the most effective inhibitor.

Antimicrobial effects of some mono- and bishydrazones.

Antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal effects of nine mono- and bishydrazones of glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, methoxyacetaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were studied using eight model organisms. It was found that bishydrazones are much more efficient antimicrobial agents than monohydrazones in the case of all model microorganisms.

Antiprotozoal effects of some hydrazones.

Antiprotozoal effects of hydrazones derived from compounds with 1 to 4 carbon atoms were studied on the model organism Trichomonas vaginalis isolated from a female patient with acute urogenital trichomoniasis.

Antimicrobial effect of sugar osazones and anhydro sugars.

The antimicrobial effect of 14 sugar osazones and anhydro sugars was studied with model strains of Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus licheniformis, Escherichia coli and strains Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical material. The relationship between the structure of these compounds, their solubility in water and 1-octanol and antimicrobial effect was investigated.

Determination of the molecular weight of alpha-amylase, as the enzyme-inhibitor complex, using thin layer gel filtration on Sephadex.

Thin layer gel filtration on Sephadex was performed as a simple method for recognition of the small molecular weight differences of human alpha-amylases from different sources. Activity was located with dry chromogenic substrate, using a replica technique. Undesirable interaction between the gel matrix and substrate binding sites on the enzyme, which causes an anomalous decrease in the migration rate of the enzyme protein, was suppressed by preincubation of the enzyme with appropriate inhibitor. Gradual masking of substrate binding sites of the enzyme by increasing concentrations of amylase inhibitors resulted in two distinct migration rates for the enzyme in thin layer gel filtration. This suggests the existence of two substrate binding sites in the enzyme molecule. Together with thin layer gel affinity chromatography on a mixture of Sephadex and ConA-Sepharose, the method yielded useful data on the molecular weight of amylase and its glycosylated forms and served as a valuable tool for the differential diagnosis of macroamylasaemia.

Production of beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and endo-beta-1,4-glucanase by selected microscopic fungi.

Production of beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase and endo-beta-1,4-glucanase was screened in 58 species of imperfect fungi, mucoral fungi and some ascomycetes. beta-Glucosidase activity was found in all of the tested microorganisms, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity in 23, and endo-beta-1,4=glucanase activity in 38 microorganisms. Growth on cellobiose was found in all tested microorganisms, growth on carboxymethylcellulose in in 38 tested strains.

[beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase in spore-forming microorganisms. IV. Properties of some Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases (author's transl)]. / beta-1,3-1,4-Glucanase in sporenbildenden Mikroorganismen. IV. Eigenschaften einiger Bacillus-beta-Glucan-HER.

The beta-glucan-hydrolases produced by seven Bacillus species have been characterized with regard to some physicochemical properties. Ca-ions stabilize all tested glucanases. Optimum pH and optimum temperature were found to be different for the investigated enzymes. In the work presented here is given further characteristics of Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases as pH-stability and temperature stability, sensibility on glucono-1,5-lactone, as well known inhibitor of carbohydrases, and electrophoretic mobility on cellulose acetate-sheets.

Production of alpha-amylase by microscopic fungi.

The amylolytic activity and especially the production of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) was screened in imperfect fungi, mucoral fungi and some ascomycetes. The character of the polysaccharide system, which is responsible for the utilization of alpha (1 to 4) glucan, was specified with a concomitant screening of growth on soluble starch. The amylolytic activity was found in 29 strains out of the 49 tested.

[beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase in sporeforming microorganisms. III. Substrate specificity and action patterns of some Bacillus-beta-glucan-hydrolases (author's transl)]. / beta-1,3-1,4-Glucanase in sporenbildenden Mikroorganismen. III. Substratspezifität und Wirkungsweise einiger Bacillus-beta-Glucan-Hydrolasen.

Comparative investigations were carried out concerning substrate specificity and action patterns of seven Bacillus-endo-beta-glucanases produced by the species, B. subtilis, B. macerans, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. circulans, B. laterosporus, B. pumilus and B. polymyxa. All enzymes with the exception of beta-glucanase from B. macerans hydrolyze lichenan and barley-beta-glucan only and were without action on laminaran and CM-cellulose. It was suggested that hydrolysis products of beta-glucanase produced by B. macerans were markedly different from the products of the other enzymes. We conclude that B. macerans enzyme, which cleaves laminaran and beta-1,3-1,4-glucans, represents "laminarinase" type (1-3-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.6). On the other hand the glucanases produced by the other Bacillus strains belong to "licheninases" 1-3,1-4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolases, E.C. 3.2.1.73).