An innovative process chain for the production of antibiofouling polymer parts using ultrafast laser texturing

Polymers are versatile materials widely used in various industries, with significant applications in biomedicine where biofouling on polymer surfaces presents major health and economic challenges. Biofouling, initiated by bacterial adhesion, can be mitigated by modifying surface properties through l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of advanced manufacturing technology 2024-10, Vol.134 (7-8), p.3653-3664
Main Authors: Oubellaouch, Keltoum, Orazi, Leonardo, Brun, Paola, Lucchetta, Giovanni, Pelaccia, Riccardo, Sorgato, Marco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advanced manufacturing technologies
Bacteria
Bacterial infections
Biofouling
CAE) and Design
Chemical treatment
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD
Contact angle
Design
E coli
Engineering
Gram-positive bacteria
Hydrophobic surfaces
Industrial and Production Engineering
Injection molding
Laser beam texturing
Lasers
Manufacturing
Mass production
Mechanical Engineering
Media Management
Microorganisms
Nanoparticles
Original Article
Patterning
Polymers
Roughness
Surface properties
Texturing
Titanium
Ultrafast lasers
Wettability
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Summary:Polymers are versatile materials widely used in various industries, with significant applications in biomedicine where biofouling on polymer surfaces presents major health and economic challenges. Biofouling, initiated by bacterial adhesion, can be mitigated by modifying surface properties through laser micro- and nano-texturing, an approach that offers advantages over chemical treatments. This study introduces an economical mass production process for textured polymeric components using injection molding to replicate hierarchical textures. Testing revealed that all textured samples significantly reduced bacterial adhesion compared to untextured surfaces across different designs and bacteria types after 24 h of culture. The study examined factors like wettability, nanoscale roughness, and pattern dimensions to explain these outcomes, comparing them with existing studies. Despite all textured samples showing decreased wettability and roughness, these factors alone did not ensure reduced bacterial adhesion. The most effective anti-adhesive performance was observed in surfaces with parallel ridge patterns, which segmented the surface into isolated areas that limited bacterial interaction and hindered micro-colony formation, highlighting the importance of specific surface patterning in combating biofouling.
ISSN:0268-3768
1433-3015
DOI:10.1007/s00170-024-14369-y