Dynamic interfacial vortex arrays for advanced antifouling

Abstract

Microbial fouling is a persistent problem ranging from biomedical devices to industrial and maritime equipment. Current antifouling strategies fall short of durability due to the rapid degradation of the biocidal interfaces. Here, we report a dynamic interfacial vortex array (DIVA) antimicrobial strategy that can develop high wall shear forces to actively remove any adhered microbial species on the surface. The DIVA is induced by a reciprocating magnet array on a magnetic soft composite surface. The simulation results of the wall shear on the DIVA surface show that the average wall shear on the moving dimple is ∼10 times that on the moving plate. This DIVA is able to keep a surface with <2% fouling in a high-concentration bacterial environment and demonstrates >90% bacterium removal within an hour independent of bacterial species. The proposed DIVA strategy effectively maintains prolonged antibacterial performance, showing profound potential in medical equipment, the food industry, and the maritime industry. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]