Title: A simple method to prepare superhydrophobic polypropylene coatings for biomedical applications

Authors: Rafik Abbas; Wagih A. Sadik; Abdel Ghaffar M. El Demerdash; Adel F. Badria

Addresses: Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163, Horreya Avenue, El-Shatby 21526, P.O. Box: 832, Alexandria, Egypt ' Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163, Horreya Avenue, El-Shatby 21526, P.O. Box: 832, Alexandria, Egypt ' Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163, Horreya Avenue, El-Shatby 21526, P.O. Box: 832, Alexandria, Egypt ' Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, 163, Horreya Avenue, El-Shatby 21526, P.O. Box: 832, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract: In this paper, a simple method of preparing superhydrophobic self-cleaning polypropylene coating for biomedical applications is reported. The effect of several factors on the preparation of superhydrophobic polypropylene (PP) surfaces has been studied. These factors include PP concentration, heating rate for PP dissolution, the solvent evaporation rate and the addition of different amounts of TiO2 nanoparticles. The prepared PP was studied by contact angle, SEM, FTIR, and DSC measurements. This study showed that the best suitable parameters for PP superhydrophobic surface formation were found to be 40 mg/ml of PP in xylene concentration, 3.5°C/min dissolution heating rate and 70°C curing temperature. Superhydrophobic polypropylene surfaces incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticles have been successfully synthesised via the adopted method. Static contact angle of 165° was achieved. Also, preliminary biological studies, including bacteria antisticking effect and ISO cytotoxixcity, have been investigated. The antisticking effect of the superhydrophobic surfaces showed a significant positive result against S. aureus bacterial suspension.

Keywords: polypropylene coatings; TiO2 nanoparticles; titanium dioxide; nanocomposites; S. aureus bacteria adhesion; ISO cytotoxicity; superhydrophobicity; biomedical applications; superhydrophobic polypropylene surfaces; nanotechnology; synthesis; antisticking effect.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2014.067595

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2014 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.156 - 169

Received: 02 Apr 2014
Accepted: 28 May 2014
Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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