Biomimetic antibiofouling oil infused honeycomb films fabricated using breath figures

Abstract

Microorganisms form strong communities known as biofilms, which are ubiquitous in both natural and artificial environments and lead to problems such as health hazards and energy loss. The most effective solution against biofouling is to prevent the initial adhesion of the microbial cells to the material surface. This paper reports the fabrication of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) through a simple method and the antibiofouling properties of these surfaces against microorganisms. The principle of these surfaces is inspired by Nepenthes, which are pitcher plants. SLIPSs can be easily and inexpensively generated through the breath figure method and ultrasonic processing. The developed silicon oil-infused substrate exhibited a low fall angle and antifouling characteristics. The results suggest that the proposed simple method can be used to successfully generate an antibiofouling substrate. A microstructured film was fabricated using the breath figure method, and a slippery surface was achieved by infusing silicone oil onto the film. Among the obtained samples, oil-supported pincushion films (oPCF) most efficiently prevented water droplets and microorganisms from adhering to the surfaces. In addition, the adhesion of E. coli and B. subtilis to oPCF was reduced to 7.1 and 13% of that pertaining to PTFE, respectively. These results suggest that our efficient antifouling substrate can ensure human health and environmental safety without the use of any toxic compounds.