#  Vascularized self-lubricating surfaces 

 



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#### Vascularized self-lubricating surfaces

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 into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and filling them with a silicone oil to generate a non-toxic oil-infused material. When replenished with silicone oil from an outside source, these materials are capable of self-lubrication and continuous renewal of the interfacial fouling-release layer. Under accelerated lubricant loss conditions, fully-infused vascularized samples retained significantly more lubricant than equivalent non-vascularized controls.   
  
Tests of lubricant-infused PDMS in static cultures of the infectious bacteria*Staphylococcus aureus* and *Escherichia coli* as well as the green microalgae*Botryococcus braunii, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella salina,* and*Nannochloropsis oculata* showed a significant reduction in biofilm adhesion compared to PDMS and glass controls containing no lubricant. Further experiments on vascularized versus non-vascularized samples that had been subjected to accelerated lubricant evaporation conditions for up to 48 h showed significantly less biofilm adherence on the vascularized surfaces. These results demonstrate the ability of an embedded lubricant-filled vascular network to improve the longevity of fouling-release surfaces.



 

##  Media Gallery 

 



  [### Bio-inspired vascularized

 ](/resource/bio-inspired-vascularized) Fig. 1: Bio-inspired vascularized fouling-release surfaces. 

 

 

   ![Bio-inspired vascularized](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/device.jpg?itok=UmX4yLeN) 

 



 

 

   [### Bio-inspired vacularized

 ](/resource/bio-inspired-vacularized) Fig. 2: Bio-inspired vacularized fouling-release surfaces. 

 

 

   ![Bio-inspired vacularized](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/vascular_cartoon.jpg?itok=U47gEkbG) 

 



 

 

   [### (A) Schematic of the process

 ](/resource/schematic-process) Fig. 3: (A) Schematic of the process to make either infused PDMS or vascularized, infused PDMS. For simple infused PDMS (upper row), cured PDMS is placed in a bath of silicone oil which diffuses into the PDMS solid. For vascularized PDMS, the vascular... 

 

 

   ![(A) Schematic of the process](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/figure_3.jpg?itok=Qyqhxnhu) 

 



 

 

   [### (A) Removal of glass

 ](/resource/removal-glass) Fig. 4: (A) Removal of glass, PDMS, and lubricant-infused PDMS from a solution of S. aureus after 48 hours of growth. The black arrow indicates the location of the infused PDMS sample. (B) Surfaces after staining for adherent biofilm with crystal violet.... 

 

 

   ![(A) Removal of glass](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/figure_4.jpg?itok=AQqzdeIk) 

 



 

 

   [### (A) Glass slides half-coated

 ](/resource/glass-slides-half-coated) Fig. 5: (A) Glass slides half-coated with lubricant-infused PDMS were incubated in culture vessels containing B. braunii. After 12 days, the slides were slowly removed from the vessel using a dip coater attached to the slide. At t=0 and t=5 seconds, the... 

 

 

   ![(A) Glass slides half-coated](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/figure_5.jpg?itok=cIamdu2X) 

 



 

 

   [### (A) Surface coverage

 ](/resource/surface-coverage) Fig. 6: (A) Surface coverage of biofilm remaining on lubricant-infused PDMS versus glass control surfaces after incubation in and removal from the liquid medium containing C. reinhardtii, D. salina, or N. oculata. For all three species, there was a... 

 

 

   ![(A) Surface coverage](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/figure_6.jpg?itok=ovShl8Iz) 

 



 

 

   [### (A) Quantification of the amount of biofilm

 ](/resource/quantification-amount-biofilm) Fig. 7: (A) Quantification of the amount of biofilm remaining on these surfaces compared to unlubricated controls (CtrlD) and samples that had undergone no lubricant evaporation (0h). The samples with embedded vasculature show significantly less adherent... 

 

 

   ![(A) Quantification of the amount of biofilm](/sites/g/files/omnuum6296/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/aizenberg/files/figure_7.jpg?itok=X8a0PRvI)