Crystal Violet-Impregnated Slippery Surface to Prevent Bacterial Contamination of Surfaces.

Biofilms which are self-organized communities can contaminate various infrastructural systems. Preventing bacterial adhesion on surfaces is more desirable than cleaning or disinfection of bacteria-contaminated surfaces. In this study, a 24 h bacterial adhesion test showed that "slippery surfaces" had increased resistance to bacterial contamination compared to polydimethylsiloxane and superhydrophobic surfaces.

Photobactericidal Activity of Dual Dyes Encapsulated in Silicone Enhanced by Silver Nanoparticles.

Crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes with silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated into silicone to produce light-activated antimicrobial surfaces. Optical microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that CV and MB were diffused throughout the silicone samples and that Ag NPs were successfully encapsulated by the swell-encapsulation-shrink process. Antimicrobial tests on and showed that CV/MB-encapsulated silicone samples have stronger photobactericidal activity than CV or MB samples and the addition of Ag NPs significantly enhanced the antimicrobial activity under white light.

The Anti-Biofouling Properties of Superhydrophobic Surfaces are Short-Lived.

Superhydrophobic surfaces are present in nature on the leaves of many plant species. Water rolls on these surfaces, and the rolling motion picks up particles including bacteria and viruses. Man-made superhydrophobic surfaces have been made in an effort to reduce biofouling.

Superhydrophobic and White Light-Activated Bactericidal Surface through a Simple Coating.

Bacterial adhesion and proliferation on surfaces are a challenge in medical and industrial fields. Here, a simple one-step technique is reported to fabricate self-cleaning and bactericidal surfaces. White, blue, and violet paints were produced using titanium dioxide nanoparticles, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane, crystal violet, toluidine Blue O, and ethanol solution.

Buoyancy increase and drag-reduction through a simple superhydrophobic coating.

A superhydrophobic paint was fabricated using 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES), TiO nanoparticles and ethanol. The paint has potential for aquatic application of a superhydrophobic coating as it induces increased buoyancy and drag reduction. Buoyance testing showed that the reduction of surface energy by superhydrophobic coating made it feasible that glass, a high density material, was supported by the surface tension of water.