Assembly of Turing-Like Patterns from Multi-Shaped Starch Nanoparticles on PDMS Films for Applications as Anti-Biofilm Coatings

The adhesion and biofilm formation of bacteria on materials are difficult to eliminate, which poses a potential foodborne disease and a public health threat. Physical interference of bacterial growth has been greatly focused on material surfaces modified by green and sustainable nanoparticles, but with limited surface pattern regulation. Here, we develop a nanostarch-coated PDMS membrane via topological engineering. The self-assembly behaviors of starch nanoparticles with different shapes are compared to form highly regular and tunable patterns on the membrane surface. The microstructures of Turing-like patterns show a wide range of roughness (Ra values from 0.7 to 5.3 μm) and hydrophobicity (water contact angle up to ∼120°). It reduces bacterial colonization through physical barriers, influencing bacterial adhesion and aggregation as well as the stacking of mature biofilms. Collectively, this work provides a design and optimization pathway of Turing-like patterns of green biomaterials for anti-biofilm surfaces applied in human health-related fields.