Submicrometer-Sized Roughness Suppresses Bacteria Adhesion.

Biofilm formation is most commonly combatted with antibiotics or biocides. However, proven toxicity and increasing resistance of bacteria increase the need for alternative strategies to prevent adhesion of bacteria to surfaces. Chemical modification of the surfaces by tethering of functional polymer brushes or films provides a route toward antifouling coatings. Furthermore, nanorough or superhydrophobic surfaces can delay biofilm formation. Here we show that submicrometer-sized roughness can outweigh surface chemistry by testing the adhesion of E. coli to surfaces of different topography and wettability over long exposure times (>7 days). Gram-negative and positive bacterial strains are tes…