Plasma polymerized linalool (ppLin): An antimicrobial and biocompatible coating

Abstract

Bacterial infections in medical devices and drug resistance of bacteria can cause chaos in the world due to loss of lives in addition to the cost of device revisions, quarantine, disinfection of infected areas, and patient treatment. Antibacterial coatings of essential oils on medical devices can prevent bacterial attachment and reduce costs. Linalool is an antibacterial constituent of essential oils. Herein, we examine for the first time the fabrication and characterization of radio frequency (RF) plasma polymerized hydrophilic thin films from linalool (ppLin) by varying deposition parameters (RF power and deposition time) and the behavior of ppLin with two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) commonly related to microbial contamination of medical devices. While a dramatic reduction in E. coli and S. aureus attachment was observed on ppLin films, their hydrophilic surface was also bactericidal to S. aureus. Additionally, ppLin films were shown to be adherent and noncytotoxic to human fibroblast cells. ppLin can be potentially integrated into medical and other clinical devices as a promising low-cost biocompatible antimicrobial coating.