(495d) Multifunctional Surfaces for Antibacterial Properties: Investigating the Effect of Surface Topography and Characteristics on Preventing Bacterial Adhesion.

The study of colloids and coatings has significant implications for a wide range of applications, such as surface protection, antifouling, and drug delivery. Inspired by the numerous problems caused by the bacterial infections, one of our main works adopted a multidisciplinary approach to understand the effects of surface topography and characteristics on bacterial adhesion and developing multifunctional coatings to reduce bacterial adhesion for enhanced hygiene.

Bacterial adhesion and growth on surfaces can cause numerous problems in various fields, including healthcare, food production, and industrial settings. The topography and chemistry properties, including wettability, roughness, and surface charge, of abiotic surfaces play an important role in bacterial adhesion. Herein, we investigated bacterial adhesive behavior on flat surfaces involving different surface chemistries and on rough surfaces involving hydrophobic characteristic for given bacterial types. For superhydrophobic surfaces, these surfaces reduced the bacterial adhesion by (1) the surpassing of Laplace pressure force of interstitial air bubble than bacterial adhesive force and (2) reduced substrate area for solid-liquid contact.

Another primary focus of our work is the development of novel antifouling coatings based on the control of surface chemistry and topography via inexpensive and practical techniques. We investigate the synergistic effect of colloidal particles (natural materials), nanoparticles and surface modifications on the performance of these coatings, aiming to minimize fouling and enhance durability. Additionally, we study the potential of colloidal systems in other application, such as antimicrobial-loaded polymeric micelles and drug delivery in horticulture field. By leveraging the unique properties of colloids and their ability to interact with various interfaces, we aim to create innovative solutions for contemporary challenges in these fields.