Biomimetic Designed Surfaces for Growth Suppression of Biofilm-Inspired Sharkskin Denticles

Abstract

The surfaces of living matter have evolved into various functional 3D structures that are beyond human approach. Biomimetics, that seeks sustainable solutions for practical problems by emulating nature's time-tested patterns, functions and strategies, has developed remarkably in recent years. In recent years, denticles have been found to not only improve fluid properties but also provide an antibacterial effect. Biofilms clog the water intake of a power plant and filters of a seawater desalination plant, and it causes infections via a catheter in the medical field. Samples used for the culture test of bacteria were prepared using nanoimprinting. When transferring the structure from a metal mold directly to a resin sheet by nanoimprinting, incorrectly releasing the mold may result in the resin remaining in the mold, rendering the mold useless. To quantify the bacteria covering rate of the test samples, the samples taken out after culturing for five days were gram stained and observed with an optical microscope.