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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #380022
Research Project: Postharvest Protection of Tropical Commodities for Improved Market Access and Quarantine Security

Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research

Title: A nanoengineered stainless steel surface to combat bacterial attachment and biofilm formation

Author
item BAN, GA-HEE - University Of Hawaii
item LI, YONG - University Of Hawaii
item Wall, Marisa
item JUN, SOOJIN - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Foods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2020
Publication Date: 11/26/2020
Citation: Ban, G., Li, Y., Wall, M.M., Jun, S. 2020. A nanoengineered stainless steel surface to combat bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Foods. 9(11). Article 1518. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111518.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111518

Interpretive Summary: The presence of bacterial biofilms is a concern in the food industry. Surfaces which prevent bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation are needed, and nanoengineered stainless steel surfaces can inhibit microbial adhesion. In the present study, electrochemically etched stainless steel surfaces with Teflon coating reduced populations of Escherichia coli O157 H7 and Salmonella typhimurium 2.1–3.0 log colony-forming unit (CFU)/cm2 as compared to bare stainless steel. The surfaces developed in this study could be useful in the food industry to hinder biofilm formation in order to improve food safety.

Technical Abstract: Nanopatterning and anti-biofilm characterization of self-cleanable surfaces on stainless steel substrates were demonstrated in the current study. Electrochemical etching in diluted aqua regia solution consisting of 3.6% hydrogen chloride and 1.2% nitric acid was conducted at 10 V for 5, 10, and 15 min to fabricate nanoporous structures on the stainless steel. Variations in the etching rates and surface morphologic characteristics were caused by differences in treatment durations; the specimens treated at 10 V for 10 min showed that the nanoscale pores are needed to enhance the self-cleanability. Under static and realistic flow environments, the populations of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium on the developed features were significantly reduced by 2.1–3.0 log colony-forming unit (CFU)/cm2 as compared to bare stainless steel (p < 0.05). The successful fabrication of electrochemically etched stainless steel surfaces with Teflon coating could be useful in the food industry and biomedical fields to hinder biofilm formation in order to improve food safety.