In recent decades, antibiotic resistance has become a
crucial challenge
for human health. One potential solution to this problem is the use
of antibacterial surfaces, i.e., copper and copper alloys. This study
investigates the antibacterial properties of brass that underwent
topographic surface functionalization via ultrashort pulsed direct
laser interference patterning. Periodic line-like patterns in the
scale range of single bacterial cells were created on brass with a
37% zinc content to enhance the contact area for rod-shaped Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although the topography facilitates attachment of bacteria to
the surface, reduced killing rates for E. coli are
observed. In parallel, a high-resolution methodical approach was employed
to explore the impact of laser-induced topographical and chemical
modifications on the antibacterial properties. The findings reveal
the underlying role of the chemical modification concerning the antimicrobial
efficiency of the Cu-based alloy within the superficial layers of
a few hundred nanometers. Overall, this study provides valuable insight
into the effect of alloy composition on targeted laser processing
for antimicrobial Cu-surfaces, which facilitates the thorough development
and optimization of the process concerning antimicrobial applications.