Maryline Moreno-Couranjou

The atmospheric aerosol assisted plasma polymerization of 4-vinyl-catechol allows the facile deposition of robust redox active catechol-rich films with promising properties as organic cathode materials for lithium ion battery.

In this study, an efficient methodology, allowing the controlled co‐immobilization of two complementary biomolecules, is reported for the production of multifunctional antibacterial surfaces. To promote long‐lasting covalent immobilization, metallic surfaces are first coated with a quinone‐bearing poly(methacrylate)‐based thin film by combining an atmospheric pressure liquid‐assisted plasma polymerization and a controlled sodium periodate‐induced catechol oxidation steps. The influence of the oxidation step on the film morphology and chemistry is investigated using an analytical multitool approach involving atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet, infrared, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM‐D) analyses allow the rapid determination of the optimal biomolecule immobilization conditions in terms of kinetics of grafting and biomolecule solution concentrations. In vitro functional assays combined with QCM‐D analyses demonstrate promising, dual biologically active coated surfaces.

In this study, dimethylacrylamide (DMA) homopolymer and DMA/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DMA/EGDMA) copolymers are produced by an atmospheric pulsed plasma deposition technique. Such a mild deposition method is used to limit monomer fragmentations and favor cross‐linked structures formed through the unsaturated carbon double bond polymerization. The kinetics of deposition, and the dependence of the chemical and physical properties of the films on the comonomer ratio are investigated by combining surface and volume‐sensitive techniques. In addition, water‐stable catechol‐bearing terpolymer films are easily produced from a precursor mixture composed of dopamine methacrylamide dissolved in a 50 mol% DMA/EGDMA solution. Finally, it is demonstrated that the developed coatings can be exploited for efficient one‐step bioconjugation reaction for potential biological applications.

In this study, the upscalable, substrate‐independent, and patterning characteristics of the atmospheric pressure plasma‐initiated chemical vapour deposition technique are demonstrated for the synthesis of thermoresponsive copolymer layers from N‐vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). An analytical multitool approach is exploited to gain insight into the chemical and mechanical surface properties of p(NVCL‐co‐EGDMA) layers and bovine serum albumin protein–surface interactions. Atomic force microscopy measurements carried out in both liquid and dehydrated conditions, reveal strong temperature‐dependent stiffness changes. The swelling and dehydration processes of the layer, monitored by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM‐D), are reversible and durable with a lower critical solution temperature estimated at around 27°C. Finally, by combining QCM‐D and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, the switchable bovine serum albumin‐biofouling surface properties, triggered by temperature changes, are demonstrated.

In this work, an atmospheric aerosol assisted pulsed plasma process is reported as an environmentally friendly technique for the preparation of tunable catechol-bearing thin films under solvent and catalyst free conditions. The approach relies on the direct injection of dopamine acrylamide dissolved in 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate as comonomer into the plasma zone. By adjusting the pulsing of the electrical discharge, the reactive plasma process can be alternatively switch ON (t_ON) and OFF (t_OFF) during different periods of time, thus allowing a facile and fine tuning of the catechol density, morphology and deposition rate of the coating. An optimal t_ON/t_OFF ratio is established, that permits maximizing the catechol content in the deposited film. Finally, a diagram, based on the average energy input into the process, is proposed allowing for easy custom synthesis of layers with specific chemical and physical properties, thus highlighting the utility of the developed dry plasma route.

The growth of thermoresponsive layers with the atmospheric pressure plasma-initiated chemical vapor deposition (AP-PiCVD) process is reported for the first time. N-vinyl caprolactam (NVCL) was successfully homopolymerized and copolymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), yielding water-soluble and water-stable thermoresponsive thin films, respectively. Strong chemical retention and high thermoresponsivity were achieved, highlighting the ability of AP-PiCVD to grow functional conventional homopolymers and copolymers.

Prevention of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on the surfaces of materials is a topic of major medical and societal importance. In this study, an up-scalable atmospheric-pressure plasma assisted deposition method is introduced to produce a multicomponent coating towards the elaboration of antibacterial and anti-biofilm surfaces. Interestingly, from a single catechol-based monomer, high deposition rates of highly chemically reactive functional thin films bearing catechol as well as quinone groups are achieved. The catechol-bearing thin film allows the in situ silver nanoparticle formation, assessed by scanning electron microscopy and EDX, whilst the enriched-quinone thin film is exploited for immobilizing dispersine B, an enzyme. In vitro functional assays demonstrated the dual antibacterial and anti-biofouling resistance properties of the coatings due to the antibacterial effect of silver and the fouling resistance of grafted dispersine B, respectively. Surfaces coated only with silver provide an antibacterial effect but fail to inhibit bacterial attachment, highlighting the usefulness of such dual-action surfaces. The approach presented here provides a simple and effective chemical pathway to construct powerful antibacterial surfaces for various industrial applications.