Antiwetting and Antifouling Performances of Different Lubricant-Infused Slippery Surfaces

Abstract

The concept of slippery lubricant-infused surfaces has shown promising potential in antifouling for controlling detrimental biofilm growth. In this study, non-toxic silicone oil was either impregnated into porous surface nanostructures, referred as liquid infused surface (LIS), or diffused into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, referred to as a swollen PDMS (S-PDMS), making two kinds of slippery surfaces. The slippery lubricant layers have extremely low contact angle hysteresis and both slippery surfaces showed superior anti-wetting performances with droplets bouncing off or rolling transiently after impacting the surfaces. We further demonstrated that water droplets can remove dust from the slippery surfaces thus showing a "cleaning effect". Moreover, "coffee-ring" effects were inhibited on these slippery surfaces after droplet evaporation, and deposits could be easily removed. The clinically biofilm-forming species P. aeruginosa (as a model system) was used to further evaluate the antifouling potential of the slippery surfaces. The dried biofilm stains could still be easily removed from the slippery surfaces. Additionally, both slippery surfaces prevented around 90% of bacterial biofilm growth after 6 days, compared to the unmodified control PDMS surfaces. This investigation also extended across another clinical pathogen, S. epidermidis, and showed similar results. The anti-wetting and anti-fouling analysis in this study will facilitate the development of more efficient slippery platforms for controlling biofouling.

Slippery Liquid-Like Solid Surfaces with Promising Antibiofilm Performance under Both Static and Flow Conditions

“… 26 , 27 These liquid lubricant-based surfaces inhibit the surface attachment of bacteria and have great promise as antibiofilm surfaces. 27 − 37 However, the potential loss of lubricants through repeated usage or shear 38 − 40 remains a key limiting factor to wider adoption as a practical solution. In clinical settings, this may be a safety risk for patients.…”

Pathogen-Repellent Plastic Wrap with Built-In Hierarchical Structuring Prevents the Contamination of Surfaces with Coronaviruses

“… 35 Lubricant-infused surfaces significantly reduce the attachment and growth of bacteria and their biofilms by over 90% over the course of multiple days. 36 , 37 Introduction of antipathogenic materials, such as carvacrol and antibiotics, into the lubricant has also been utilized to reducing the transmissibility of bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ), fungi ( Bacillus subtilis ), and viruses (Zika Virus) by nearly 100%. 38 , 39 Lubricant-infused surfaces have also displayed self-healing properties through the swelling of the surface structure in the presence of the lubricant; 40 however, the number of healing cycles is limited by the amount of lubricant trapped in the surfaces.…”

“… 38 , 39 Lubricant-infused surfaces have also displayed self-healing properties through the swelling of the surface structure in the presence of the lubricant; 40 however, the number of healing cycles is limited by the amount of lubricant trapped in the surfaces. 38 Despite high performance in liquid 27 , 41 and pathogen 25 , 36 , 38 , 42 repellency, liquid-infused surfaces are difficult to operate in open-air conditions due to the evaporation of the liquid layer and the limited stability of such surfaces. 43 On the other hand, hierarchically structured surfaces do not rely on liquid infusion and provide liquid-repellent properties by reducing the apparent surface energy through the formation of unique wetting states by trapping air pockets within their surface structure (Cassie state).…”

Bioinspired Supramolecular Slippery Organogels for Controlling Pathogen Spread by Respiratory Droplets

“…The sliding angle of the organogel S 100 C 5 displayed little alteration after twenty times of washing while increased to ≈56° after thirty times of washing (Figure S18, Supporting Information), while such issue could be solved by recycling the coating and re‐balance the oil components. [ 50 ]…”

“…The sliding angle of the organogel S 100 C 5 displayed little alteration after twenty times of washing while increased to ≈56° after thirty times of washing (Figure S18, Supporting Information), while such issue could be solved by recycling the coating and re-balance the oil components. [50] With the combined features mentioned above and the excellent stability, the organogel S 100 C 5 was promising for practical applications. The organogel S 100 C 5 could be spray-coated or painted on ceramic walls and air conditioner's vent panel where suffering a high risk for contamination and accumulation of respiratory microdroplets or aerosols.…”