Facile fabrication of potent superhydrophobic surface on physical barriers with enhanced anti-adhesion efficiency

Abstract

The anti-adhesion effect of physical barriers on proteins or cells in the body is one of the essential requirements of protecting viscera from trauma. To obtain highly efficient anti-adhesion surfaces, superhydrophobic coatings on physical barriers were successfully produced by electrospraying and with the incorporation of hydrophobic fumed silica (SiO2). Superhydrophobic coatings were shown to be composed of the nano/microspheres with the mean diameter ranging from 762 nm to 1.67 μm and with the numerous meso/micropores. The optimized surface, with a high contact angle of 153.2° (±0.7°) and a low sliding angle of 0.8° (±0.5°), displayed exceptional water repellence and exhibited superior surface stability and cleanability as well. Physical barriers with superhydrophobic surfaces were proven to exhibit no cytotoxicity, significant inhibition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption, and efficient anti-adhesion on the mouse fibroblast L-929 and porcine iliac artery endothelial cells (PIECs). Thus, this facile and convenient fabrication represents an attractive approach to potent superhydrophobic surface on physical barriers for improving anti-adhesion efficiency.