# Endocsopes ## expand\_more ### Endoscopes Living organisms and biological substances are among the most difficult and persistent sources of surface fouling, particularly in medical and marine settings. The ability of organisms to adapt, move, cooperate, evolve on short timescales, and modify surfaces by secreting proteins and other molecules enables them to colonize even state-of-the-art antifouling coatings, and small surface defects can trigger protein aggregation and blood clotting. Attempts to combat these issues are further hindered by conflicting requirements at different size scales and across different species. The defect-free, dynamic liquid interface of SLIPS overcomes many of these problems at once. A single surface is able to prevent adhesion of a broad range of genetically diverse bacteria, including many pathogenic species that underlie widespread hospital-acquired infections, as well as marine algae. The same approach resists adhesion of proteins, cells, and blood, preventing clogging and thrombus formation inside medical tubing and catheters. At a larger scale, the slippery interface repels insects, which slide off and actively avoid the coated surface. We are currently developing this strategy to solve longstanding fouling issues in a wide range of medical, marine, and other settings. ## Publications Download 5 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=standard_pager&number_of_items=15&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researchtopics12%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=106136&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_project%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=111556&&&format=ris) ### 2015 MacCallum N, Howell C, Kim P, Sun D, Friedlander R, Ranisau J, Ahanotu O, Lin J, Vena A, Hatton B, et al. [Liquid-Infused Silicone As a Biofouling-Free Medical Material](/publications/liquid-infused-silicone-biofouling-free-medical-material). ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2015;1(1):43–51. doi:10.1021/ab5000578 MacCallum N, Howell C, Kim P, Sun D, Friedlander R, Ranisau J, Ahanotu O, Lin J, Vena A, Hatton B, et al. [Liquid-Infused Silicone As a Biofouling-Free Medical Material](/publications/liquid-infused-silicone-biofouling-free-medical-material). ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2015;1(1):43–51. doi:10.1021/ab5000578 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract There is a dire need for infection prevention strategies that do not require the use of antibiotics, which exacerbate the rise of multi- and pan-drug resistant infectious organisms. An important target in this area is the bacterial attachment and... ### 2014 Howell C, Vu T, Lin J, Kolle S, Juthani N, Watson E, Weaver JC, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Self-Replenishing Vascularized Fouling-Release Surfaces](/publications/self-replenishing-vascularized-fouling-release-surfaces). ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 2014;6(15):13299–13307. doi:10.1021/am503150y Howell C, Vu T, Lin J, Kolle S, Juthani N, Watson E, Weaver JC, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Self-Replenishing Vascularized Fouling-Release Surfaces](/publications/self-replenishing-vascularized-fouling-release-surfaces). ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 2014;6(15):13299–13307. doi:10.1021/am503150y - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27738666) Inspired by the long-term effectiveness of living antifouling materials, we have developed a method for the self- replenishment of synthetic biofouling-release surfaces. These surfaces are created by either molding or directly embedding 3D vascular systems... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27738666) Leslie D, Waterhouse A, Berthet J, Valentin T, Watters A, Jain A, Kim P, Hatton B, Nedder A, Donovan K, et al. [A bioinspired omniphobic surface coating on medical devices prevents thrombosis and biofouling](/publications/bioinspired-omniphobic-surface-coating-medical-devices-prevents-thrombosis-and). Nature Biotechnology. 2014;32(11):1134–1140. doi:10.1038/nbt.3020 Leslie D, Waterhouse A, Berthet J, Valentin T, Watters A, Jain A, Kim P, Hatton B, Nedder A, Donovan K, et al. [A bioinspired omniphobic surface coating on medical devices prevents thrombosis and biofouling](/publications/bioinspired-omniphobic-surface-coating-medical-devices-prevents-thrombosis-and). Nature Biotechnology. 2014;32(11):1134–1140. doi:10.1038/nbt.3020 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34298865) Thrombosis and biofouling of extracorporeal circuits and indwelling medical devices cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We apply a bioinspired, omniphobic coating to tubing and catheters and show that it completely repels blood and... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34298865) Yao X, Dunn S, Kim P, Duffy M, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Fluorogel Elastomers with Tunable Transparency, Elasticity, Shape- Memory, and Antifouling Properties](/publications/fluorogel-elastomers-tunable-transparency-elasticity-shape-memory-and-antifouling). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014;53(17):4418–4422. doi:10.1002/anie.201310385 Yao X, Dunn S, Kim P, Duffy M, Alvarenga J, Aizenberg J. [Fluorogel Elastomers with Tunable Transparency, Elasticity, Shape- Memory, and Antifouling Properties](/publications/fluorogel-elastomers-tunable-transparency-elasticity-shape-memory-and-antifouling). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014;53(17):4418–4422. doi:10.1002/anie.201310385 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27662698) Omniphobic fluorogel elastomers were prepared by photocuring perfluorinated acrylates and a perfluoropolyether crosslinker. By tuning either the chemical composition or the temperature that control the crystallinity of the resulting polymer chains, a... - [ descriptionPublisher's Version](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:27662698) ### 2012 Epstein A, Wong T, Belisle R, Boggs E, Aizenberg J. [Liquid-infused structured surfaces with exceptional anti-biofouling performance](/publications/liquid-infused-structured-surfaces-exceptional-anti-biofouling-performance). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 2012;109(33):13182–13187. doi:10.1073/pnas.1201973109 Epstein A, Wong T, Belisle R, Boggs E, Aizenberg J. [Liquid-infused structured surfaces with exceptional anti-biofouling performance](/publications/liquid-infused-structured-surfaces-exceptional-anti-biofouling-performance). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 2012;109(33):13182–13187. doi:10.1073/pnas.1201973109 - [ picture\_as\_pdfPNAS-2012-Epstein-1201973...](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/PNAS-2012-Epstein-1201973109_0.pdf) - [ picture\_as\_pdfPNAS-2012-Epstein-1201973...](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/PNAS-2012-Epstein-1201973109_0.pdf) ## Media Gallery [### The slippery liquid surface ](/resource/slippery-liquid-surface) Fig. 1: The slippery liquid surface almost completely (up to >99%) prevents surface contamination by a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. ![Fig. 1: The slippery liquid surface almost completely (up to >99%) prevents surface contamination by a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/bacteria.gif?itok=5eEcM58C) [### A SLIPS-coated surface submerged ](/resource/slips-coated-surface-submerged) Fig. 2: A SLIPS-coated surface submerged in an algae-rich medium shows no accumulation of biofouling. ![Fig. 2: A SLIPS-coated surface submerged](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/algae.jpg?itok=Ey7YsGfs) [### A single surface ](/resource/single-surface) Fig. 3: A single surface - liquid-infused fluorogel shown here - prevents adhesion of proteins, living cells, and blood. ![Fig. 3: A single surface](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/fluorogel_biol.gif?itok=8quzlKmG) [### A slippery liquid coating ](/resource/slippery-liquid-coating) Fig. 4: A slippery liquid coating applied to the inside of medical tubes and catheters comprehensively repels blood. The devices prevent protein adhesion, clogging, loss of platelets, and surface-nucleated clotting and thrombus formation. ![Fig. 4: A slippery liquid coating](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/wholeblood3.jpg?itok=b1VYpzAQ) [### In addition to proteins ](/resource/addition-proteins) Fig. 5: In addition to proteins and microoganisms, SLIPS also repels insects. Ants not only slide off the slippery surface but actively turn away after failing to get a grip on it. ![Fig. 5: In addition to proteins](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/ants.jpg?itok=WC9UkzpZ) [### Photograph of CV-stained ](/resource/photograph-cv-stained) Fig. 6: Photograph of CV-stained biofilms formed on variably infused silicone tubing in the same conditions as A-D; the lower half is infused and the top half is untreated. Only a very small amount of biofilms form on the infused section of the tube, and... ![Fig. 6: Photograph of CV-stained](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/slips_tube.png?itok=AFyj7zW8) [### Bacteria readily form a ~40 µm ](/resource/bacteria-readily-form-40-mm) Fig. 7: Bacteria readily form a ~40 µm thick biofilm on untreated silicone tubing, but biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are not present on the surface of iPDMS tubing in the same conditions. Note that some small, easily removed bacterial aggregates are... ![Fig. 7: Bacteria readily form a ~40 µm](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/slips_fluorescent.png?itok=zfkCzKS3) ## Media Coverage [Carnivorous Plant Inspires Anticlotting Medical Devices](http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/carnivorous-plant-inspires-anticlotting-medical-devices/), Scientific American podcast, October 15, 2014. [Slippery When Coated: Helping Medical Devices Prevent Blood Clots](http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/10/12/355193762/slippery-when-coated-helping-medical-devices-resist-blood-clots), NPR, October 12, 2014. [Bioinspired coating for medical devices repels blood and bacteria](http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/171/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bioinspired%20coating%20for%20medical%20devices%20repels%20blood%20and%20bacteria&utm_content=Bioinspired%20coating%20for%20medical%20devices%20repels%20blood%20and%20bacteria%20CID_1b1cb6297b641bffdd8dfb5e55180eb4&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Click%20to%20view%20as%20a%20web%20page), Harvard press release, October 12, 2014. [SLIPS Blitz Biofilms](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v488/n7410/full/488133d.html), Nature, August 9, 2012. [Harvard scientists' breakthrough could stop biofilm formation](http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/Harvard-scientists-breakthrough-could-stop-biofilm-formationl), Food Production Daily, August 9, 2012. [Super slippery surface prevents biofilms](http://www.pnas.org/site/misc/highlights.shtml#biofilms), PNAS, July 31, 2012. [New coating evicts biofilms for good](http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news-events/press-releases/biofilms-may-no-longer-have-a-place-to-stand), Harvard press release, July 30, 2012.