Designing Bioinspired Anti‐Biofouling Surfaces based on a Superwettability Strategy

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. np - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Pengchao, Lin, Ling, Zang, Dongmian, Guo, Xinglin, Liu, Mingjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Animals; anti‐biofouling; Bacteria; Biofouling; bioinspired surfaces; Biomimetic Materials - chemistry; Biomimetics; Devices; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Marine; Marine technology; Nepenthes; Organisms; Proteins; Resists; slippery surfaces; Strategy; superhydrophobic surfaces; underwater superoleophobic surfaces; Water; Wettability; underwater superoleophobic surfaces; bioinspired surfaces; anti-biofouling; slippery surfaces; superhydrophobic surfaces
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201503334

Anti‐biofouling surfaces are of high importance owing to their crucial roles in biosensors, biomedical devices, food processing, the marine industry, etc. However, traditional anti‐biofouling surfaces based on either the release of biocidal compounds or surface chemical/physical design cannot satisfy the practical demands when meeting real‐world complex conditions. The outstanding performances of natural anti‐biofouling surfaces motivate the development of new bioinspired anti‐biofouling surfaces. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed for rationally designing bioinspired anti‐biofouling surfaces based on superwettability. By utilizing the trapped air cushions or liquid layers, Lotus leaf inspired superhydrophobic surfaces, fish scales inspired underwater superoleophobic surfaces, and Nepenthes pitcher plants inspired omniphobic slippery surfaces have been successfully designed as anti‐biofouling surfaces to effectively resist proteins, bacteria, cells, and marine organisms. It is believed that these novel superwettability‐based anti‐biofouling surfaces will bring a new era to both biomedical technology and the marine industry, and will greatly benefit human health and daily life in the near future. A superwettability strategy for the rational design and development of bioinspired anti‐biofouling surfaces will bring a promising way to effectively resist proteins, bacteria, cells, and marine organisms for both biomedical and industrial applications.