Enhanced Immobilization of Enzymes on Plasma Micro-Nanotextured Surfaces and Microfluidics: Application to HRP.

The enhanced and direct immobilization of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchannel surfaces to create a miniaturized enzymatic reactor for the biocatalytic oxidation of phenols is demonstrated. Enzyme immobilization occurs by physical adsorption after oxygen plasma treatment, which micro-nanotextures the PMMA surfaces. A five-fold enhancement in immobilized enzyme activity was observed, attributed to the increased surface area and, therefore, to a higher quantity of immobilized enzymes compared to an untreated PMMA surface.

Dielectric Response of ZnO/PMMA Nanocomposites with Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Modified Surfaces.

In this work, the effect of etching the surface of polymer matrix nanocomposites with atmospheric pressure plasma targeting to achieve enhanced dielectric properties was investigated. Polymer nanocomposites, with varying reinforcing phase content, were modified by atmospheric-pressure plasma resulting in an increase in the surface filler's concentration. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix nanocomposites reinforced with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were prepared and dielectrically studied as a function of the nanoparticle content and the plasma modified surfaces.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Functionalization of Sealed PDMS Microfluidics: Application to Capillary Pumping and Enhanced Cell Growth.

Microfluidic devices serve as essential tools across diverse fields like medicine, biotechnology, and chemistry, enabling advancements in analytical techniques, point-of-care diagnostics, microfluidic cell cultures, and organ-on-chip models. While polymeric microfluidics are favoured for their cost-effectiveness and ease of fabrication, their inherent hydrophobic properties necessitate surface functionalization, often post-sealing. Here, we introduce a versatile apparatus for functionalizing sealed microfluidic devices using atmospheric plasma processing, with a focus on PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) microfluidics.

Functional Surfaces for Passive Fungal Proliferation Control: Effect of Surface Micro- and Nanotopography, Material, and Wetting Properties.

Fungal proliferation can lead to adverse effects for human health, due to the production of pathogenic and allergenic toxins and also through the creation of fungal biofilms on sensitive surfaces (i.e., medical equipment).

A Diagnostic Chip for the Colorimetric Detection of in Less than 3 h at the Point of Need.

has been pinpointed by the World Health Organization as the highest health burden of all waterborne pathogens in the European Union and is responsible for many disease outbreaks around the globe. Today, standard analysis methods (based on bacteria culturing onto agar plates) need several days (~12) in specialized analytical laboratories to yield results, not allowing for timely actions to prevent outbreaks. Over the last decades, great efforts have been made to develop more efficient waterborne pathogen diagnostics and faster analysis methods, requiring further advancement of microfluidics and sensors for simple, rapid, accurate, inexpensive, real-time, and on-site methods.