Bacterial antifouling characteristics of helicene—graphene films

Abstract

Herein, we describe interfacially-assembled [7]helicene films that were deposited on graphene monolayer using the Langmuir-Schaefer deposition by utilizing the interactions of nonpla-nar (helicene) and planar (graphene) π–π interactions as functional antifouling coatings. Bacterial adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus on helicene—graphene films was noticeably lower than that on bare graphene, up to 96.8% reductions in bacterial adhesion. The promising bacterial antifouling characteristics of helicene films was attributed to the unique molecular geometry of helicene, i.e., nano-helix, which can hinder the nanoscale bacterial docking processes on a surface. We envision that helicene—graphene films may eventually be used as protective coatings against bacterial antifouling on the electronic components of clinical and biomedical devices.