Antibacterial hierarchical surface fabricated using nanoimprint lithography

Antibacterial materials and surfaces play an important role in various applications, including healthcare, food packaging, and environmental protection. This study investigated the use of nanoimprint lithography for the fabrication of antibacterial hierarchical polymer film. The hierarchical structures were produced on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) films incorporated with silver (Ag) particles. The fabrication process involved an in situ chemical reduction method to synthesize the PVDF-HFP/Ag film. Subsequently, a two-step nanoimprint lithography technique was employed to create the hierarchical structures. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the uniform distribution of these structures across the surface of the PVDF-HFP/Ag film. The antibacterial properties of the produced samples were assessed using two model bacterial species, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli as representative bacteria models. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in antibacterial behavior, which is attributed to the presence of hierarchical structures on the surface of PVDF-HFP/Ag films. This study offers insights into the development of antibacterial surfaces using nanoimprint lithography. These materials can be potentially used in various biomedical applications.