Surface Acoustic Waves-Enabled Shielding Fluid Layers Inhibit Bacterial Adhesion

The generation of surface acoustic waves (SAW) through electrically driven piezoelectric devices has attracted considerable attention in both fundamental research and practical applications, particularly for suppressing bacterial adhesion on surfaces. However, the precise mechanism by which SAW prevents bacterial attachment remains incompletely understood. This study explores the impact of SAW-induced boundary-driven streaming on the surface adhesion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in a liquid environment, focusing on the prevention of bacterial adhesion through the formation of micrometer-scale shielding fluid layers. We primarily examine the distance and acoustic streaming effects that influence bacterial behavior in the flow field. Our in vitro experiments, supported by numerical simulations, demonstrate that the viscous boundary layer and vortices generated by SAW can inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation when Stokes drag forces predominate. This work provides new insights into the inhibitory mechanism of SAW on bacterial adhesion, offering valuable guidance for the development of advanced antibacterial strategies.