Mechano-Bactericidal Surfaces Achieved by Epitaxial Growth of Metal–Organic Frameworks
Journal article, 2025
Mechano-bactericidal (MB) surfaces have been proposed as an emerging strategy for preventing biofilm formation. Unlike antibiotics and metal ions that chemically interfere with cellular processes, MB nanostructures cause physical damage to the bacteria. The antibacterial performance of artificial MB surfaces relies on rational control of surface features, which is difficult to achieve for large surfaces in real-life applications. Herein, a facile and scalable method is reported for fabricating MB surfaces based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) using epitaxial MOF-on-MOF hybrids as building blocks with nanopillars of less than 5 nm tip diameter, 200 nm base diameter, and 300 nm length. Two methods of MOF surface assembly, in situ growth and ex situ dropcasting, result in surfaces with nanopillars in different orientations, both presenting MB actions (bactericidal efficiency of 83% for E. coli). Distinct MB mechanisms, including stretching, impaling, and mechanical injury, are discussed with the observed bacterial morphology on the obtained MOF surfaces.
mechano-bactericidal surface
antibacterials
metal–organic framework
biofilm
MOF-on-MOF
Author
Zhejian Cao
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Santosh Pandit
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Huanghe Science & Technology University
Francoise Mystere Amombo Noa
Catholic University of Central Africa
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jian Zhang
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Wengeng Gao
Student at Chalmers
Shadi Rahimi
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Lars Öhrström
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Wengeng Gao
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Novo Nordisk Foundation
Advanced Science
2198-3844 (ISSN) 21983844 (eISSN)
Vol. In PressGraphene-based drug delivery systems for treating MRSA infections
NordForsk (105121), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Materials Chemistry
DOI
10.1002/advs.202505976