Superhydrophobic Surfaces Toward Prevention of Biofilm- Associated Infections

Abstract

In this chapter, we briefly review the different strategies for surface modification as a method to fight against bacteria adhesion and biofilm formation. We focus on superhy-drophobic materials and biofilm medical infections. We give some insights into common materials and preparation techniques for superhydrophobic surfaces before discussing recent bacteria interacting with superhydrophobic surfaces. These surfaces have indeed demonstrated great potential in preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation due to the presence of micro-and nanostructures. Although much work has been done, further investigations are still required to improve the surface mechanical properties over time and to understand the underlying mechanism behind their antimicrobial and antifouling capability. Moreover, there is a lack of standard methodology for evaluating antibacterial properties , and biofilm prevention should be studied with longer incubation times. We strongly believe in the potential of superhydrophobic surfaces, and we encourage more research on its magnificent properties, especially for their advantages over other antimicrobial surfaces. The rapid proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, which is responsible for nosocomial infections, is becoming a major public health problem because of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial treatments (antibiotics and biocides) [1]. It is now well established that bacterial populations attach to solid substrates for survival, forming biofilms. Biofilms are dense microbial communities, adhering to surfaces, which secrete an extracellular matrix mainly composed of water, polysac-charides, DNA and proteins [2]. Many different strategies on surface modification have been studied over the last few years to reduce bacterial adhesion and to avoid biofilm formation.