Vertically Aligned Graphene Coating is Bactericidal and Prevents the Formation of Bacterial Biofilms
Journal article, 2018
The key first step in developing bacterial infections related to implants and medical devices is the attachment of planktonic bacterial cells, and subsequent formation of biofilms. Herein, it is reported that graphene, a 2D carbon-based material, can be effectively used to prevent bacterial attachment. The key parameter for this effect is the orientation of graphene with respect to the coated surface. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene, deposited horizontally on the surface, exhibits no antibacterial effect. By contrast, an array of graphene flakes grown perpendicularly to the surface by a plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD) process prevent biofilm formation. Electron microscopy reveals that the exposed edges of vertically aligned graphene flakes penetrate the bacterial membrane and drain the cytosolic content. Bacteria are not able to develop resistance to this killing mechanism during multiple exposures. By keeping the height of the vertical graphene coating between 60 and 100 nm, the coating is able to effectively kill bacteria, while being completely harmless to mammalian cells.
antibacterial activity
adhesion
vertical graphene
biofilm
mouse fibroblast cell
Author
Santosh Pandit
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Z. Cao
Venkata Raghu Mokkapati
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Emanuele Celauro
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology
Avgust Yurgens
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Martin Lovmar
Wellspect Healthcare
Fredrik Westerlund
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology
Jie Sun
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Beijing University of Technology
Wellspect Healthcare
Ivan Mijakovic
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Advanced Materials Interfaces
2196-7350 (eISSN)
Vol. 5 7 1701331Areas of Advance
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SO 2010-2017, EI 2018-)
Subject Categories
Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology
Materials Chemistry
Other Physics Topics
Medical Materials
DOI
10.1002/admi.201701331