Anti-fouling properties of microstructured surfaces bio-inspired by rice leaves and butterfly wings.
Material scientists often look to biology for new engineering solutions to materials science problems. For example, unique surface characteristics of rice leaves and butterfly wings combine the shark skin (antifouling) and lotus leaf (self-cleaning) effects, producing the so-called rice and butterfly wing effect. In this paper, we study antifouling properties of four microstructured surfaces inspired by rice leaves and fabricated with photolithography and hot embossing techniques. Anti-biofouling effectiveness is determined with bioassays using Escherichia coli whilst inorganic fouling with simulated dirt particles. Antifouling data are presented to understand the role of surface geometrical features resistance to fouling. Conceptual modeling provides design guidance when developing novel antifouling surfaces for applications in the medical, marine, and industrial fields.
Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLB(2)), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Gregory D
GD
Bixler
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; The Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Andrew
A
Theiss
Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLB(2)), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: bhushan.2@osu.edu.
Bharat
B
Bhushan
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; The Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Stephen C
SC
Lee
D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002080:Butterflies; D004926:Escherichia coli; D018515:Plant Leaves
Antifouling; Butterfly wing; E. coli; Rice leaf; Self-cleaning