title: Influence of the surface properties on bactericidal and fungicidal activity of magnetron sputtered Ti-Ag and Nb-Ag thin films.
abstract: In this study the comparative investigations of structural, surface and bactericidal properties of Ti-Ag and Nb-Ag thin films have been carried out. Ti-Ag and Nb-Ag coatings were deposited on silicon and fused silica substrates by magnetron co-sputtering method using innovative multi-target apparatus. The physicochemical properties of prepared thin films were examined with the aid of X-ray diffraction, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods. Moreover, the wettability of the surface was determined. It was found that both, Ti-Ag and Nb-Ag thin films were nanocrystalline. In the case of Ag-Ti film presence of AgTi3 and Ag phases was identified, while in the structure of Nb-Ag only silver occurred in a crystal form. In both cases the average size of crystallites was ca. 11 nm. Moreover, according to scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy investigations the surface of Nb-Ag thin films was covered with Ag-agglomerates, while Ti-Ag surface was smooth and devoid of silver particles. Studies of biological activity of deposited coatings in contact with Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus hirae, Klebisiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were performed. It was found that prepared coatings were bactericidal and fungicidal even in a short term-contact, i.e. after 2 h.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: damian.wojcieszak@pwr.edu.pl.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wojcieszak
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaczmarek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Wrocław, Max Born 9, 50-204 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szponar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Wroclaw University of Technology, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domaradzki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Okólna 2, 50-422 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kepinski
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009556:Niobium; D012834:Silver; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Bactericidal properties; Nb–Ag; Surface properties; Thin films; Ti–Ag