title: Self-cleaning antimicrobial surfaces by bio-enabled growth of SnO2 coatings on glass.
abstract: Conventional vapor-deposition techniques for coatings require sophisticated equipment and/or high-temperature resistant substrates. Therefore bio-inspired techniques for the fabrication of inorganic coatings have been developed in recent years. Inspired by the biology behind the formation of the intricate skeletons of diatoms orchestrated by a class of cationic polyamines (silaffins) we have used surface-bound spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, to promote the fast deposition of homogeneous, thin and transparent biomimetic SnO2 coatings on glass surfaces. The bio-enabled SnO2 film is highly photoactive, i.e. it generates superoxide radicals (O2˙(-)) upon sunlight exposure resulting in a strong degradation of organic contaminants and a strong antimicrobial activity. Upon illumination the biomimetic SnO2 coating exhibits a switchable amphiphilic behavior, which - in combination with its photoactivity - creates a self-cleaning surface. The intrinsic self-cleaning properties could lead to the development of new protective, antifouling coatings on various substrates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Natalio
authors.forename: Muhammad Nawaz
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tremel
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D010782:Photolysis; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D013096:Spermine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D012235:Rhodamines; D017971:Tin Compounds; D013096:Spermine; C029773:rhodamine B; C045358:stannic oxide