Surface modification of electrospun silk/AMOX/PVA nanofibers by dielectric barrier discharge plasma: physiochemical properties, drug delivery and in-vitro biocompatibility.

The naturally obtained protein Bombyxmori silk is a biocompatible polymer with excellent mechanical properties and have the potential in controlled drug delivery applications. In this work, we have demonstrated dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) oxygen (O) plasma surface modified electrospun Bombyxmori silk/Amoxicillin hydrochloride trihydrate (AMOX)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers for drug release applications with controlled plasma treatment duration (1-10 min). The findings indicate that plasma treated electrospun nanofibers for 1-3 min exhibited significant enhancement in tensile strength, Young's modulus, wettability and surface energy.

An innovative approach for iron fortification of rice using cold plasma.

In the present study, an innovative cold plasma treatment was used as a tool to fortify the white rice. The amounts of ferrous sulphate and ascorbic acid were optimized for improving the bioavailability of iron. White rice samples were treated with plasma at a constant voltage of 20 kV for varying time (10 min and 15 min).

Chitosan coated silk fibroin surface modified by atmospheric dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma: a mechanically robust drug release system.

The current study is designed to develop mechanically strong chitosan (Cs) coated silk based drug delivery system loaded with amoxicillin trihydrate (AMOX). For this purpose, surface modification of silk fibroin (AASF) yarn is carried out using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) oxygen (O) plasma at atmospheric pressure followed by coating with drug incorporated Cs (AASF/O/Cs-AMOX). It is observed that O plasma treatment results in altering surface chemistry and morphology of silk fibroin surface which subsequently improves mechanical properties of AASF/O/Cs-AMOX yarn.

Surface modification of electrospun PVA/chitosan nanofibers by dielectric barrier discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure and studies of their mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

In this paper, surface of electrospun PVA/Cs nanofibers is modified using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and the relationship between the observed mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the nanofibers and plasma-induced surface properties is discussed. Plasma treatment of electrospun PVA/Cs nanofibers is carried out with both inert (argon, Ar) and reactive (oxygen, O) gases at atmospheric pressure. Incorporation of oxygen-containing polar functional groups on the surface of Ar-plasma treated (PVA/Cs/Ar) and O-plasma treated (PVA/Cs/O) nanofibers and increase in surface roughness contribute to the improvement of surface wettability and the decrease of contact angle with water of the nanofibers.

Penicillin impregnation on oxygen plasma surface functionalized chitosan/Antheraea assama silk fibroin: Studies of antibacterial activity and antithrombogenic property.

Low temperature plasma can effectively tailor the surface properties of natural polymeric biomaterials according to the need for various biomedical applications. Non-mulberry silk, Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF) is a natural polymer having excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength yet unlike mulberry silk, Bombyx mori silk fibroin, has drawn less interest in biomedical research. In the quest for developing as potential biomaterial, surface functionalization of plasma induced chitosan (Cs) grafted AASF ((AASF/O2-CS)g/O2) yarn is carried out using oxygen (O2) plasma.

Controlled antibiotic-releasing Antheraea assama silk fibroin suture for infection prevention and fast wound healing.

Background: The quest for developing silk fibroin as a biomaterial for drug release systems continues to draw research interest owing to its impressive mechanical properties as well as biocompatibility and biodegradability. The aim of this study is to develop low-temperature O2 plasma-treated muga (Antheraea assama) silk fibroin (AASF) yarn impregnated with amoxicillin trihydrate as controlled antibiotic-releasing suture (AASF/O2/AMOX) for preventing postoperative site bacterial infection and fast wound healing.

Methods: In this experimental study, AASF and AASF/O2/AMOX sutures are used to close the surgical wounds of adult male Wistar rats of 4 months old and weighing 200-230 g.

Development of advanced antimicrobial and sterilized plasma polypropylene grafted muga (Antheraea assama) silk as suture biomaterial.

Surface modification of silk fibroin (SF) materials using environmentally friendly and non-hazardous process to tailor them for specific application as biomaterials has drawn a great deal of interest in the field of biomedical research. To further explore this area of research, in this report, polypropylene (PP) grafted muga (Antheraea assama) SF (PP-AASF) suture is developed using plasma treatment and plasma graft polymerization process. For this purpose, AASF is first sterilized in argon (Ar) plasma treatment followed by grafting PP onto its surface.