An Australian-Japanese team of scientists has created a nanotexture that can destroy up to 70% of bacteria.
“We knew that the wings of cicadas and dragonflies are effective at killing bacteria, but reproducing natural objects is always a challenge,” says Elena Ivanova, lead researcher.
The wings of dragonflies and cicadas are covered with manynanopillars—tiny, blunted spines comparable to the size of bacteria. When microorganisms come into contact with the wing, these projections rupture the cell membranes and kill the bacteria.
A team of scientists has developed various optionsformation on a polymer film of an uneven structure of nanopillars 60 nm high, located at a distance of 60 nm from each other. When forming the “patterns,” the researchers copied the textures of insect wings and also developed their own alternative structures.
The scientists tested the obtained samples and selected those that best mimic the antimicrobial properties of insect wings and are easy to produce on an industrial scale.
In addition, the developers tested variousmaterials that can be used to form an antimicrobial coating. They compared the antibacterial properties of textured films made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), acrylic and nylon. Acrylic coatings turned out to be the most effective. They made it possible to destroy up to 70% of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
“The nanotextures created in our studyshowed effectiveness when using hard plastic,” Ivanova said. “Our next challenge is to adapt the structure to work with soft plastics.”
The researchers note that the technology is ready for scaling and can be used to create food packaging or personal protective equipment.
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