Reducing Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization of polydimethylsiloxane

Modification of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface by a combined physical and chemical method has been carried out. The method consists in ion-beam treatment followed by grafting of acrylic acid and interaction with chemicals. As a result, amino groups and coordination compounds of the zinc(II) ion have been assumed to appear on the polymer surface. The biofilms of Staphylococcus epidermidis clinical strains adhered to the initial and modified surfaces has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. In this paper microbial contamination of surface modified silicone rubber was shown to be significantly reduced. This modification technique can be suggested for antibacterial treatment of medical devices made of silicon rubber.