Modification of Food-Contacting Surfaces by Plasma Polymerization Technique: Reducing the Biofouling of Microorganisms on Stainless Steel Surface

Abstract

In this study, the prevention of the attachment of test microorganism Enterobacter sakazakii onto stainless steel (SS 316) surfaces by radio frequency (RF) plasma polymerization (PlzP) technique using several hydrophilic monomers as precursors was reported. Different plasma conditions (RF discharge power of 20-80 W with exposure time of 10 min) were employed during the modifications. PlzP-modified surfaces were characterized in detail by static contact angle measurements in order to state the change of surface hydrophilicity. The surface topology of unmodified and PlzP [ethylenediamine (EDA)]-modified SS 316 plates was characterized by atomic force microscopy. The attachment of the model microorganism on the SS 316 surface modified by plasma using EDA at 45 W and 10 min was reduced by 99.74% in comparison to the unmodified control surface. For equilibrium adsorption behavior, Freundlich and Langmuir models were attempted and model parameters for Freundlich (K (F) and 1/n) and for Langmuir (a and b) were obtained. The values of the K (F) and 1/n were 5.6 and 0.58 and 0.9 and 0.39, respectively; the values of a and b were 25 x 10(4) and 1.82 x 10(-8) and 0.3 x 10(4) and 7.96 x 10(-8), for bare and PlzP-EDA-modified SS 316 surfaces, respectively. As a result, PlzP technique was found to be an alternative simple method to decrease the microbial attachment and create bacterial anti-fouling surfaces.