Antibacterial efficacy of nanostructured surfaces

Nanostructures in nature exhibit unique properties, such as hydrophobicity and self-cleaning effects, known as the lotus effect. Despite advancements in nanotechnology, research on the antibacterial applications of nano-patterned surfaces remains limited. This study investigates the antibacterial efficacy of nanostructured surfaces against common pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria were cultured on substrates featuring single-periodic and dual-periodic nano-structured surfaces, demonstrating significant inhibition of bacterial growth. For example, E. coli exhibited a 37.58% reduction on the P322 surface, while S. aureus showed a 17.08% reduction on the P977 surface. K. pneumoniae demonstrated a 33.63% reduction on the H200 surface, and P. aeruginosa was inhibited by 17.49% on the P200 surface. These findings highlight the antibacterial potential of single-periodic and dual-periodic nanostructured surfaces, emphasizing their promise in antibacterial applications, particularly for mass-producible antimicrobial substrates. Additionally, this study introduces dual-periodic nanostructured surfaces as a design innovation for enhanced antimicrobial efficacy.