Impact of surface topography on the bacterial attachment to micro- and nano-patterned polymer films

last updated: 2024-08-01
ProjectFlexpol :: publications list
TitleImpact of surface topography on the bacterial attachment to micro- and nano-patterned polymer films
Publication TypePapers in Scientific Journals
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsFrancone A., Merino S., Retolaza A., Ramiro J., Alves S. A., Vieira de Castro J., Neves N. M., Arana A., Marimom J. M., Torres C. M. S., and Kehagias N.
Abstract

The development of antimicrobial surfaces has become a high priority in recent times. There are two ongoing worldwide health crises: the COVID-19 pandemic provoked by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the antibiotic-resistant diseases provoked by bacteria resistant to antibiotic-based treatments. The need for antimicrobial surfaces against bacteria and virus is a common factor to both crises.

Most extended strategies to prevent bacterial associated infections rely on chemical based-approaches based on surface coatings or biocide encapsulated agents that release chemical agents. A critical limitation of these chemistry-based strategies is their limited effectiveness in time while grows the concerns about the long-term toxicity on human beings and environment pollution. An alternative strategy to prevent bacterial attachment consists in the introduction of physical modification to the surface. Pursuing this chemistry-independent strategy, we present a fabrication process of surface topographies [one-level (micro, nano) and hierarchical (micro+nano) structures] in polypropylene (PP) substrates and discuss how wettability, topography and patterns size influence on its antibacterial properties. Using nanoimprint lithography as patterning technique, we report as best results 82 and 86% reduction in the bacterial attachment of E. coli and S. aureus for hierarchically patterned samples compared to unpatterned reference surfaces. Furthermore, we benchmark the mechanical properties of the patterned PP surfaces against commercially available antimicrobial films and provide evidence for the patterned PP films to be suitable candidates for use as antibacterial functional surfaces in a hospital environment.

JournalSurfaces and Interfaces
Volume27
Pagination101494
Date Published2021-10-05
ISSN2468-0230
DOI10.1016/j.surfin.2021.101494
URLhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246802302100571X
KeywordsAntibacterial, Functional surfaces, Hierarchical surface topographies, Nanoimprint lithography, Polypropylene films, Surface patterning
RightsopenAccess
Peer reviewedyes
Statuspublished

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