Modification of Superhydrophilic Surfaces with Antibacterial Properties to Enhance Their Resistance to Fiber Contamination during Sanitary Treatment

Abstract

Superhydrophilic copper surfaces with hierarchical textures have demonstrated high effectiveness in combating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, a key drawback of these surfaces is their susceptibility to mechanical contamination by fibrous materials during sanitary treatment. This study proposes a method for laser modification of superhydrophilic copper surfaces to enhance resistance to fiber contamination during sanitary processing. The modified surfaces retain superhydrophilicity and exhibit superhydrophobic properties upon the application of a hydrophobic agent. Additionally, the proposed modification method improves the resistance of the hierarchical texture to abrasive wear while maintaining high bactericidal properties. The results suggest that these modified textured copper materials can be utilized as bactericidal touch surfaces to combat HAIs in medical facilities.