Progress in construction of bio-inspired physico-antimicrobial surfaces

Abstract

Bacteria are widely distributed in the natural environment and the surfaces of objects, bringing about much trouble in our lives. Varies nanomaterials have been demonstrated good effect on killing microbe, but the consistency and stability seem to be improved. Recently, antibacterial effect on surfaces of some natural nanostructures was recognized, and more and more evidences were provided as a new type of bactericidal mechanism, the physical sterilization. The dragonfly and cicada wings have been found to possess the most exceptional antibacterial properties because of the specific nanostructure. Inspired by the biofunctions, researchers began to build a series of physico-antimicrobial surfaces on different materials to avoid the abuse of antibiotics and the environmental pollution of organic antibacterial agents. The physico-antimicrobial structure does not rely on chemical components, and a series of physico-antimicrobial models have been established. To deeply understand the physically bactericidal effect, this article reviews a series of natural and biomimetic physical antibacterial surfaces and makes reasonable expectations for the application of such composite materials in constructing physical antibacterial surfaces.