Development of Advanced Antibiofouling Surfaces Integrating Nature-Inspired Materials, Structures, and Dynamic Motions

Abstract

Biofilm contamination poses serious problems in various fields, including healthcare, the marine industry, and the food industry. For example, biofilms formed on medical devices can lead to infections and severe health issues, while in the marine industry, biofilms cause corrosion on ship hulls and pipes, increasing fuel consumption and maintenance costs. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to effectively prevent biofilm formation. Conventional biofilm prevention techniques, such as using silver, copper, antibiotics, or superhydrophobic coatings, rely on chemical methods to eliminate bacteria. However, these methods often suffer from issues like poor durability, toxicity, and complex manufacturing processes, making it difficult to ensure long-term and stable biofilm resistance. Physical bactericidal methods using nanostructures also have limitations, including high costs and secondary biofilm formation.

To address these challenges, researchers have been developing bioinspired surface contamination prevention strategies. In nature, organisms like corals, Nepenthes, and cicadas utilize remarkable defense mechanisms to prevent biofilm contamination through various materials, structures, and movements. These bioinspired strategies are non-toxic, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. However, relying solely on single-strategy approaches still results in limitations, such as low biofilm resistance and insufficient durability.

In this study, we developed a bioinspired hybrid antibiofouling surface that combines multiple strategies. The first strategy involves an antimicrobial, self-lubricating, and self-replenishing hybrid slippery coating that maintains stable performance under physical environmental stimuli and effectively prevents biofilm formation over an extended period. The second strategy uses an amphiphilic copolymer nanospike array, which provides excellent antifogging and contamination resistance properties, preventing bacterial adhesion through enhanced water dispersal and self-cleaning characteristics. Lastly, the dynamic actuating nanospike surface responds to external stimuli by physically disrupting bacterial cell walls and employs dynamic movements to further prevent bacterial attachment effectively.

This hybrid antibiofouling surface offers a promising solution for preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Additionally, it holds significant potential for applications in marine, medical, and agricultural industries as an eco-friendly and long-lasting biofilm prevention technology, paving the way for new advancements in functional surface engineering.