Ultrasonic fabrication of flexible antibacterial ZnO nanopillar array film

[Display omitted] •The flexible antibacterial ZnO nanopiilar arrays were sucessfully fabricated by assistance of sonochemical reaction.•The ZnO formation mechanism is also proposed and investigated using FT-IR and XRD.•Antibacterial efficiency was depthly investigated using realistic pathogetnic bacteria model of E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus.•ZnO nanopiilar arrays have improved antibacterial behavior because of nanotopological effects and electrostatic interaction. Antibacterial activity is essential and highly demanded in worldwide to prevent potential bacterial infection. Here in this work, we report a new approch for the fabrication of flexible zinc oxide nanopillar arrays (ZG-NPA) film with an efficient antibacterial activity. A flexible NPA film served as a substrate for the rapid formation of ZnO by using ultrasound-assisted method. The enhancement of antibacterial activity were induced by cellular damages because of nano topological effects and electrostatic interaction between bacteria and ZG-NPA. Owing to the benefits of combination with flexibility, high surface areas from nano-features and excellent antibacterial efficiency (>80%) of ZG-NPA, the film can show great potential for use as novel biomaterials for preventing bacterial infections.