Constructing nanostructured functional film on EH40 steel surface for anti-adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Biofilm formation is an important cause of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), and inhibition of microbial adhesion is one of the most effective ways to control biofilm formation. In this work, nanostructured functional film of EH40 steel is prepared by one-step anodization in NaOH solution to inhibit adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) without and with light. Results show that the functional films fabricated on EH40 steel surface in a series of NaOH solutions inhibit the adhesion of P. aeruginosa, and its anti-adhesion performance first increases and then decreases with varying concentrations of NaOH solution. The optimal anti-adhesion performance under dark condition, i.e., anti-adhesion rate of 92.7% compared with bare steel, is obtained for the nanostructured oxide film fabricated in 12 M NaOH solution under anodization potential of 1.0 V for 2 h. Under visible light irradiation, the best anti-adhesion rate increases to 99.9% due to hydroxyl radicals (OH) produced by the nanostructured oxide film with photocatalytic activity.