Issue 1, 2021

Photothermal bactericidal surfaces: killing bacteria using light instead of biocides

Abstract

Endowing the surfaces of synthetic materials with bactericidal activity is a direct and effective way to prevent bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, solving the related serious problems such as contamination, infection and biofouling. Conventional bactericidal surfaces are usually based on biocidal agents such as antibiotics to kill attached bacteria; however, such surfaces have inherent limitations from their respective biocidal agents and most of them become less effective against the so-called “super bacteria” with multidrug-resistance. In recent years, photothermal bactericidal surfaces have become a promising alternative for combating surface-attached bacteria. These surfaces rely on immobilized photothermal agents, which can convert light energy into thermal energy to effectively eliminate bacteria through various hyperthermia effects, showing several advantages including broad-spectrum sterilization ability, no drug resistance and few side effects. In this review, we highlight the recent development of these photothermal bactericidal surfaces, which are categorized into three types according to the photothermal agents. Multi-functional photothermal bactericidal surfaces with either integrated synergistic killing mechanisms or capability to switch function between killing bacteria and releasing bacteria are also introduced. A brief perspective is finally presented on the directions that show promise for the future.

Graphical abstract: Photothermal bactericidal surfaces: killing bacteria using light instead of biocides

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
18 apr 2020
Accepted
22 maj 2020
First published
22 maj 2020

Biomater. Sci., 2021,9, 10-22

Photothermal bactericidal surfaces: killing bacteria using light instead of biocides

Y. Zou, Y. Zhang, Q. Yu and H. Chen, Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 10 DOI: 10.1039/D0BM00617C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements