(136a) On Demand Release of Bacterial Biofilms Via Shape Memory Activation

Surface topography at nano- or micro-scale has been intensively studied as a promising antifouling strategy. However, fouling control by a static surface topography can be temporary, and biofilm can gradually develop over time. Surfaces that are able to change topography to remove established biofilms can help address this challenge. Here, we demonstrate that a shape memory polymer (SMP) with defined surface topography can both prevent bacterial adhesion and remove established biofilms upon triggered shape change, thereby offering more prolonged antifouling properties. For example, an SMP substrate with µm-scale hexagonal wells fixed with a temporary but stable uniaxial strain of >50% exhibited 48.1% reduction in biomass of 48 h Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms before shape recovery compared with a static flat controls. Upon heating for 10 min at 40°C, the hexagonal wells recovered to the permanent shape, causing detachment of 99.9% of attached biofilm cells. Because rapid shape change can be obtained near body temperature (e.g., 10 min at 40°C in this study), biocompatible SMPs with appropriate surface topographies may be developed for future biomedical applications, and thus represent a new class of antifouling surfaces.