title: Inhibition of microbial growth on chitosan membranes by plasma treatment.
abstract: The use of polymeric medical devices has stimulated the development of new sterilization methods. The traditional techniques rely on ethylene oxide, but there are many questions concerning the carcinogenic properties of the ethylene oxide residues adsorbed on the materials after processing. Another common technique is the gamma irradiation process, but it is costly, its safe operation requires an isolated site, and it also affects the bulk properties of the polymers. The use of gas plasma is an elegant alternative sterilization technique. The plasma promotes efficient inactivation of the microorganisms, minimizes damage to the materials, and presents very little danger for personnel and the environment. In this study we used plasma for microbial inhibition of chitosan membranes. The membranes were treated with oxygen, methane, or argon plasma for different time periods (15, 30, 45, or 60 min). For inhibition of microbial growth with oxygen plasma, the time needed was 60 min. For the methane plasma, samples were successfully treated after 30, 45, and 60 min. For argon plasma, all treatment periods were effective.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Cardoso Macêdo
authors.forename: Haroldo Reis Alves
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: de Macêdo
authors.forename: Dayanne Lopes
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Freitas Daudt
authors.forename: Hugo Alexandre Oliveira
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Clodomiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D058626:Plasma Gases; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Membranes; Plasma; Sterilization