Bioinspired nanoflakes with antifouling and mechano-bactericidal capacity

Pathogenic bacteria contamination ubiquitously occurs on high-contact surfaces in hospitals and has long been a threat to public health, inducing severe nosocomial infections that cause multiple organ dysfunction and increased hospital mortality. Recently, nanostructured surfaces with mechano-bactericidal properties have shown potential for modifying material surfaces to fight against the spread of pathogenic microorganisms without the risk of triggering antibacterial resistance. Nevertheless, these surfaces are readily contaminated by bacterial attachment or inanimate pollutants like solid dust or common fluids, which has greatly weakened their antibacterial capabilities. In this work, we discovered that the nonwetting Amorpha fruticosa leaf surfaces are equipped with mechano-bactericidal capacity by means of their randomly-arranged nanoflakes. Inspired by this discovery, we reported an artificial superhydrophobic surface with similar nanofeatures and superior antibac-terial abilities. Compared to conventional bactericidal surfaces, this bioinspired antibacterial surface was syn-ergistically accompanied by antifouling performances, which significantly prevent either initial bacterial attachment or inanimate pollutants like dust covering and fluid contaminants. Overall, the bioinspired anti-fouling nanoflakes surface holds promise as the design of next-generation high-touch surface modification that effectively reduces the transmission of nosocomial infections.

Automated summary

Pathogenic bacteria contamination on high-contact surfaces in hospitals is a major threat to public health, causing severe nosocomial infections and increased hospital mortality. Nanostructured surfaces with mechano-bactericidal properties show potential for fighting against pathogenic microorganisms. However, bacterial attachment and inanimate pollutants weaken their antibacterial capabilities. In this study, we discovered a nonwetting Amorpha fruticosa leaf surface with mechano-bactericidal capacity and developed an artificial superhydrophobic surface with similar nanofeatures and superior antibacterial abilities, along with antifouling performances. This bioinspired anti-fouling nanoflakes surface holds promise for reducing the transmission of nosocomial infections.