Submicrometer-Sized Roughness Suppresses Bacteria Adhesion
N. Encinas, Ching‐Yu Yang, Florian Geyer, Anke Kaltbeitzel, Philipp Baumli, Jonas Reinholz, Volker Mailänder, Hans‐Jürgen Butt, Doris Vollmer
Abstract
to surfaces of different topography and wettability over long exposure times (>7 days). Gram-negative and positive bacterial strains are tested for comparison. We show that an irregular three-dimensional layer of silicone nanofilaments suppresses bacterial adhesion, both in the presence and absence of an air cushion. We hypothesize that a 3D topography can delay biofilm formation (i) if bacteria do not fit into the pores of the coating or (ii) if bending of the bacteria is required to adhere. Thus, such a 3D topography offers an underestimated possibility to design antibacterial surfaces that do not require biocides or antibiotics.