Durable Antimicrobial Microstructure Surface (DAMS) Enabled by 3D-Printing and ZnO Nanoflowers

Numerous studies have been trying to create nanomaterial-based antimicrobial surfaces to prevent infections due to bacterial growth. One major challenge in real-world applications of these surfaces is their mechanical durability. In this study, we introduce durable antimicrobial microstructure surface (DAMS), which integrates DLP 3D-printed microstructures with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers. The microstructures function as protection armor for the nanoflowers during abrasion. The antimicrobial ability was evaluated by immersing in 2E8 CFU/mL Escherichia coli (E. coli) suspension and then evaluated using electron microscopy. Our results indicated that DAMS reduced bacterial coverage by more than 90% after 12 h of incubation and approximately 50% after 48 h of incubation before abrasion. More importantly, bacterial coverage was reduced by approximately 50% after 2 min of abrasion with a tribometer, and DAMS remains effective even after 6 min of abrasion. These findings highlight the potential of DAMS as an affordable, scalable, and durable antimicrobial surface for various biomedical applications.