The ongoing search for better antibacterial wound care dressings has led to the design and fabrication of advanced functional nanomaterials. Taking advantage of electrospinning and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), free-standing nanofibrous scaffolds are promising for use in novel biomedical applications. Random and aligned polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyacrylic acid (PAA) nanofiber scaffolds are fabricated by electrospinning and treated with CAP. In this study, we investigate the effects of CAP treatment on alignment, hydrophilicity, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility in determining the surface properties of the nanofibrous scaffolds. The results of vibrational polarization spectroscopy analysis indicate that CAP treatment changes the degree of alignment of the nanofibers. Furthermore, both random and aligned CAP-treated nanofibrous scaffolds show significant antibacterial activity against the E. coli strain. The results of an in vitro scratch assay reveal that CAP treatment of PVA/PAA nanofibers has no toxic effect.@en

Surgical site infections have a remarkable impact on morbidity, extended hospitalization and mortality. Sutures strongly contribute to development of surgical site infections as they are considered foreign material in the human body. Sutures serve as excellent surfaces for microbial adherence and subsequent colonization, biofilm formation and infection on the site of a surgery. Various antimicrobial sutures have been developed to prevent suture-mediated surgical site infection. However, depending on the site of surgery, antimicrobial sutures may remain ineffective, and antimicrobial agents on them might have drawbacks. Plasma, defined as the fourth state of matter, composed of ionized gas, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, free radical and neutrals, draws attention for the control and prevention of hospital-acquired infections due to its excellent antimicrobial activities. In the present study, the efficacy of non-thermal atmospheric plasma treatment for prevention of surgical site infections was investigated. First, contaminated poly (glycolic-co-lactic acid), polyglycolic acid, polydioxanone and poly (glycolic acid-co-caprolactone) sutures were treated with non-thermal atmospheric plasma to eradicate contaminating bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Moreover, sutures were pre-treated with non-thermal atmospheric plasma and then exposed to S. aureus and E. coli. Our results revealed that non-thermal atmospheric plasma treatment effectively eradicates contaminating bacteria on sutures, and non-thermal atmospheric plasma pre-treatment effectively prevents bacterial colonization on sutures without altering their mechanical properties. Chemical characterization of sutures was performed with FT-IR and XPS and results showed that non-thermal atmospheric plasma treatment substantially increased the hydrophilicity of sutures which might be the primary mechanism for the prevention of bacterial colonization. In conclusion, plasma-treated sutures could be considered as novel alternative materials for the control and prevention of surgical site infections.@en