Combining chemistry and topography to produce antifouling surfaces, a review
Abstract
Despite decades of research on the reduction of surface fouling from biomolecules like proteins or micro-organisms like bacteria, viruses or fungi, the ultimate antifouling surface remains undiscovered. Our strongly expanding, but still incomplete, understanding of micro-organisms interactions with surfaces, and biofilm formation partly impedes the development of fully biopassive surface treatments. In parallel, the recent covid-19 pandemic strengthened the crucial need for such treatments. Among the numerous approaches that are able to provide surfaces with antifouling properties, chemical, biological and topographical strategies have been implemented for instance in marine, medical or food industries. While chemical and biological approaches either prevent the non-specific adsorption of micro-organisms, or kill them, topographical strategies are often designed to generate a mechanical stress upon their membranes. Active Principle Ingredient (API) release can be efficient; however, as well as being limited in time, bioresistance is increasing and thus the use of antibiotics should be reconsidered. Therefore, reducing non-specific adsorption and limiting micro-organism attachment is necessary for long-term solutions. Bio-inspired strategies, combining both organic chemistry and topography, are currently at the heart of the best innovative and sustainable solutions. The simultaneous effect of micro/nano-structuration, together with engineered chemical or biological functionalization is believed to contribute to the development of ever-increasing antibiofouling surfaces. This review aims to present approaches combining hydrophobic or hydrophilic chemistry and structured surfaces to avoid biofouling in different fields of interest.