Bactericidal activity of black silicon

Elena P. Ivanova (), Jafar Hasan, Hayden K. Webb, Gediminas Gervinskas, Saulius Juodkazis, Vi Khanh Truong, Alex H.F. Wu, Robert N. Lamb, Vladimir A. Baulin, Gregory S. Watson, Jolanta A. Watson, David E. Mainwaring and Russell J. Crawford
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Elena P. Ivanova: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Jafar Hasan: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Hayden K. Webb: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Gediminas Gervinskas: Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Saulius Juodkazis: Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Vi Khanh Truong: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Alex H.F. Wu: School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne
Robert N. Lamb: School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne
Vladimir A. Baulin: Departament d’Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili 26 Avenue dels Paisos Catalans
Gregory S. Watson: School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University
Jolanta A. Watson: School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University
David E. Mainwaring: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology
Russell J. Crawford: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Black silicon is a synthetic nanomaterial that contains high aspect ratio nanoprotrusions on its surface, produced through a simple reactive-ion etching technique for use in photovoltaic applications. Surfaces with high aspect-ratio nanofeatures are also common in the natural world, for example, the wings of the dragonfly Diplacodes bipunctata. Here we show that the nanoprotrusions on the surfaces of both black silicon and D. bipunctata wings form hierarchical structures through the formation of clusters of adjacent nanoprotrusions. These structures generate a mechanical bactericidal effect, independent of chemical composition. Both surfaces are highly bactericidal against all tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and endospores, and exhibit estimated average killing rates of up to ~450,000 cells min−1 cm−2. This represents the first reported physical bactericidal activity of black silicon or indeed for any hydrophilic surface. This biomimetic analogue represents an excellent prospect for the development of a new generation of mechano-responsive, antibacterial nanomaterials.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3838

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