PROBLEM: Adhesion and accumulation of microorganisms on surfaces in contact with liquid medium.
SOCIAL IMPACT: Prevention of biofilms is of extreme relevance in industry and science as they are ubiquitous and able to provoke corrosion or failure in pipelines, heat exchangers, biomedical devices, artificial implants or food processing facilities. Thus, biofilm formation leads to economical losses and, more importantly, to human health impact when related to implant and/or devices need to replacement and nosocomial infections.
OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH OF NoBios: Biofilms are often battled with antibiotics, but bacterial resistance is a major issue. Therefore, novel approaches are required to avoid biofouling. We will explore the application of (1) superamphiphobic coatings, (2) slippery liquid infused porous surfaces and (3) functional pillar arrays surfaces to battle biofilms. These surfaces have in common that they strongly repel water, blood, organic liquids, and even soap-water mixtures due to a synergy between rough topography and a special chemistry. We will monitor and characterize the adhesion of bacteria, proteins and cells to these surfaces depending on shape, size and chemical composition of the surface and the liquids. Several classical and highly advanced cutting edge methods will be used to investigate the wetting and fouling properties of these surfaces, especially laser scanning confocal microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the final steps of the research, we will evaluate the robustness of the surfaces and the biocompatibility in order to establish potential real applications.
