POTENTE

A first step of the project involves developing protocols for plasma treatments of glassy/ceramic biomaterials (both bioactive and inert) in bulk form to confer antibacterial properties or to enhance their osteointegration capability and subsequent characterization.

A second key step is the creation of at least one prototype, selecting the most promising materials and treatments based on the results obtained in the first step.

The project aims to explore new deposition and innovative treatments using non-thermal atmospheric plasma, specifically evaluating the reactivity of exposed materials and treatment parameters (e.g., gas, voltage, frequency, and treatment time). The goal is to functionalize the surfaces of materials with functional groups/molecules or to modify their surface morphology to enhance bioactive behavior or reduce bacterial adhesion and proliferation.

The surface modifications and non-thermal atmospheric plasma treatments developed within the project could be extended to new materials and applications in various biomedical fields, ranging from dental, primarily investigated in the project, to orthopedic and aesthetic-reconstructive surgery. In general, the knowledge, technology, and scientific results developed in the project could be applied to other sectors and applications, even those not specifically biomedical, that require properties such as antibacterial capabilities.