Bactericidal surface patterns

A medical device, comprising

• a bactericidal substrate characterized by an ability to kill target bacteria upon adhesion to its surface, comprising:
• a substrate having a bactericidal surface modified by a pattern comprising a plurality of uniform nanopillars evenly spaced by a plurality of uniform spacings, wherein
• the plurality of uniform nanopillars is characterized by a nanopillar width and a nanopillar periodicity, and
• the plurality of uniform spacings is characterized by a spacing width, wherein
• the spacing width is a width of a gap between any two adjacent nanopillars as measured at their top edges, and
• the nanopillar periodicity is a sum of the nanopillar width and the spacing width, and wherein
• the nanopillar width and the spacing width are each smaller than a width of the target bacteria, wherein the width of the target bacteria is the smallest dimension of the target bacteria, and wherein
• the nanopillar width, the nanopillar periodicity, and the spacing width are adjustable surface manufacturing parameters, wherein
• the pattern is configured such that contact by the target bacteria with the top edges of one or more of the plurality of uniform nanopillars immobilizes the target bacteria and causes death of the target bacteria, and wherein
• the bactericidal surface is characterized by a surface area, and
• the plurality of uniform nanopillars comprises a hard plastic characterized by a modulus of at least 10 MPa.

A bactericidal substrate characterized by an ability to kill target bacteria upon adhesion to its surface, comprising

• a substrate having a bactericidal surface modified by a pattern comprising a plurality of uniform nanostructures evenly spaced by a plurality of uniform spacings, wherein
• the plurality of uniform nanostructures is characterized by a nanostructure width and a nanostructure periodicity, and
• the plurality of uniform spacings is characterized by a spacing width, wherein
• the spacing width is a width of a gap between any two adjacent nanostructures as measured at their top edges, and
• the nanostructure periodicity is a sum of the nanostructure width and the spacing width, and wherein
• the nanostructure width and the spacing width are each smaller than a width of the target bacteria, wherein the width of the target bacteria is the smallest dimension of the target bacteria, and wherein
• the nanostructure width, nanostructure periodicity, and the spacing width are adjustable manufacturing parameters, wherein
• the pattern is configured such that contact by the target bacteria with the top edges of one or more of the plurality of uniform nanopillars immobilizes the target bacteria and causes death of the target bacteria, and wherein
• the bactericidal surface is characterized by a surface area, and
• the plurality of uniform nanopillars comprises a hard plastic characterized by a modulus of at least 10 MPa.

A method of fabricating a bactericidal film, wherein the bactericidal film comprises:

• at least one bactericidal surface characterized by an ability to kill target bacteria upon adhesion and comprising:
• a surface modified by a pattern comprising a plurality of uniform nanostructures evenly spaced by a plurality of uniform spacings, wherein
• the plurality of uniform nanostructures is characterized by a nanostructure width and a nanostructure periodicity, and
• the plurality of uniform spacings is characterized by a spacing width, wherein
• the spacing width is a width of a gap between any two adjacent nanostructures as measured at their top edges, and
• the nanostructure periodicity is a sum of the nanostructure width and the spacing width, and wherein
• the nanostructure width and the spacing width are, each, smaller than a width of the target bacteria, wherein the width of the target bacteria is the smallest dimension of the target bacteria, and wherein
• the pattern is configured such that contact by the target bacteria with the top edges of one or more of the plurality of uniform nanostructures immobilizes the target bacteria and causes death of the target bacteria;
• wherein the method comprises:
• providing a flat film of a film thickness and comprising a hard plastic characterized by a modulus of at least 10 MPa and a glass transition temperature;
• providing a mold for nanoimprint lithography, wherein the mold comprises a negative of the pattern and is characterized by a mold area;
• placing a first surface of the flat film on a support;
• pressing the mold against a second surface of the flat film for a first period of time;
• releasing the flat film from the mold and the support to produce a free-standing plastic film with at least one bactericidal surface.