Cicada wing-inspired antibacterial nanopatterned COP resin structure reduces HUVEC cell proliferation

Abstract Nanopillar structures found on the surfaces of cicada and dragonfly wings exhibit contact-active bactericidal activity and have attracted attention as candidates for advanced biomaterial surfaces. Previous studies have shown that nanoscale topographies can regulate endothelial cell morphology, proliferation, and migration. However, the combined evaluation of bactericidal activity and endothelial cell responses on a precisely fabricated, transparent thermoplastic nanopillar platform remains limited. In this study, highly ordered nanopillars with a pitch of 200 nm, diameter of 100 nm, and heights of 100–200 nm were fabricated on cyclic olefin polymer (COP) using thermal nanoimprint lithography. The nanopillar COP surfaces exhibited marked bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli. In parallel, HUVECs cultured on nanopillar COP showed reduced proliferation and altered morphology compared with flat COP and conventional tissue culture polystyrene. Actin staining and SEM observations indicated restricted cell spreading and altered cytoskeletal organization on nanopillar surfaces. These findings demonstrate that nanopillar COP surfaces exhibit bactericidal activity together with reduced HUVEC proliferation and altered morphology in vitro. This dual phenotypic characterization provides a foundation for future mechanistic and translational studies.