Structure-Based Design of Dual Bactericidal and Bacteria-Releasing Nanosurfaces
Daniel Salatto1, Zhixing Huang1, Peter Todd Benziger2,3
1Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York11794-2275, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 5, 2023
Summary
New nanostructured surfaces kill bacteria and release them, offering dual properties. Titanium oxide-coated nanopillars show enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli and L. monocytogenes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Bacterial infections pose significant challenges in healthcare.
- Developing novel antibacterial surfaces is crucial for preventing infections.
- Existing antibacterial strategies often lack multifaceted functionalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create and characterize nanostructured surfaces with combined bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties.
- To investigate the antibacterial efficacy of these surfaces against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the observed dual properties using molecular dynamics simulations.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-block-PMMA) diblock copolymer-based nanopillars on silicon substrates.
- Coating of PS nanopillars with titanium oxide (TiO2) to create TiO2 nanopillars.
- Experimental evaluation of bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of lipid bilayers interacting with nanopillar substrates.
Main Results:
- PS nanopillars exhibited effective bactericidal and bacteria-releasing properties against E. coli for at least 36 hours.
- TiO2-coated nanopillars demonstrated significantly improved dual properties against E. coli and also showed efficacy against L. monocytogenes.
- MD simulations revealed that adhesion-mediated stress concentration at nanopillar edges drives membrane rupture (bactericidal) and subsequent withdrawal (bacteria-releasing).
Conclusions:
- Nanostructured surfaces, particularly TiO2-coated nanopillars, possess potent dual antibacterial and bacteria-releasing functionalities.
- The observed multifaceted properties are driven by adhesion-mediated stress concentration at the nanoscale.
- These findings are vital for designing advanced antibacterial surface coatings for medical applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
1.3K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
1.3K
01:28Biological Methods for Microbial Control
165
Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
165