Bioinspired nanopillar surface for switchable mechano-bactericidal and releasing actions

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Antibacterial surfaces are crucial for healthcare to prevent infections.
• Current nanostructure surfaces face limitations due to dead bacteria accumulation, reducing effectiveness.
• Developing antibiotic-free antibacterial strategies is essential to combat resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a bioinspired nanopillar surface with both mechano-bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties.
• To achieve long-lasting antibacterial performance by preventing dead bacteria buildup.
• To develop a physically-acting antibacterial surface to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• Grafting zwitterionic polymer (poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA)) onto ZnO nanopillars.
• Investigating the surface's mechano-bactericidal activity under dry conditions.
• Evaluating the bacteria-releasing capability in aqueous solutions due to polymer swelling.

Main Results:

• The modified nanopillar surface exhibits potent mechano-bactericidal action in dry conditions.
• The surface effectively releases killed bacteria and debris in aqueous environments.
• Antibacterial performance is switchable between killing and releasing actions, ensuring sustained efficacy.
• The antibacterial mechanism relies solely on physical interactions, preventing antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

• A novel ZnO nanopillar surface functionalized with PSBMA demonstrates dual mechano-bactericidal and bacteria-releasing capabilities.
• This bioinspired surface offers a promising, long-lasting, and antibiotic-free solution for preventing bacterial contamination.
• The developed surface is substrate-independent, biocompatible, and suitable for biomedical devices and hospital surfaces.