I-Corps: Translation Potential of Biomimetic Nanostructured Surfaces for Chemical-free Bacterial Control

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a technology that reduces bacterial colonization on implantable medical devices. Bacterial contamination contributes to implant failure, revision procedures, product spoilage, recalls, and operational disruptions. Existing antibacterial approaches often depend on chemical agents or applied coatings that may lose effectiveness, wear away, complicate manufacturing, or contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This technology creates passive, coating-free nanoscopic surface features that physically damage bacteria upon contact without antibiotics, antimicrobial coatings, or chemical additives. The applications include medical devices, food-contact equipment, consumer products, and industrial surfaces and may offer manufacturers a scalable surface-engineering process that may be adapted to existing materials and production workflows. This may reduce the dependence on antimicrobial chemicals, and may improve product safety and reliability, lower maintenance and healthcare costs, reduce waste, and protect public health. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of biomimetic nanotextured antibacterial surface technology for impantable medical devices and other applications. This technology was initially developed on titanium alloy surfaces for orthopedic and dental implants using alkaline hydrothermal treatment to create randomly distributed nanoscale pillars. These structures physically damage bacterial membranes through contact rather than releasing antibiotics or antimicrobial chemicals. The technology is a coating-free, contact-killing nanotopography that combines antibacterial activity with support for osteoblast attachment, proliferation, and differentiation, distinguishing it from conventional antibiotic coatings and chemically active surfaces. Prior research demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, increased wettability and surface roughness, and favorable osteoblast responses on the surface. The initial application is in medical implants, but the surface-engineering principles can address contamination and biofouling in other industries. Users may benefit from passive antibacterial performance without detachable coatings or routine antimicrobial application. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.