Nanopillars have been shown to mechanically damage bacteria, suggesting a promising strategy for future antibacterial surfaces. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomena remain unclear, which ultimately limits translational potential toward real-world applications. Using real-time and end-point analysis techniques, we demonstrate that in contrast to initial expectations, bacteria on multiple hydrophilic "mechano-bactericidal" surfaces remained viable unless exposed to a moving air-liquid interface, which caused considerable cell death. Reasoning that normal forces arising from surface tension may underlie this mechano-bactericidal activity, we developed computational and experimental models to estimate, manipulate, and recreate the impact of these forces. Our experiments together demonstrate that a critical level of external force acting on cells attached to nanopillar surfaces can rapidly deform and rupture bacteria. These studies provide fundamental physical insight into how nanopillar surfaces can serve as effective antibacterial materials and suggest use-conditions under which such nanotechnology approaches may provide practical value.
Keywords: air−liquid interface; external force; mechano-bactericidal; silicon nanopillars; surface tension; zinc oxide nanopillars.