Bioinspired passive anti-biofouling surfaces preventing biofilm formation

J Mater Chem B. 2015 Feb 21;3(7):1371-1378. doi: 10.1039/c4tb01522c. Epub 2015 Jan 14.

Abstract

Biofilm formation enables bacteria to grow under unfavorable conditions, provides them with protection, and increases their resistance to antimicrobial agents. Once a biofilm has formed, it is difficult, and in some systems, impossible to treat. Strategies based on the release of biocidal agents have shown only transient efficiency. Herein, we present a novel bioinspired passive approach to the prevention of surface biofilm attachment by exploiting superhydrophobic surfaces formed via the self-assembly of paraffin or fluorinated wax crystals. Our surfaces show exceptional ability to inhibit biofilm formation of both Gram-positive Bacillus cereus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa over a 7 day period (up to 99.9% inhibition).