Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Wrinkles on Polymer Films: From Chaotic to Ordered Antimicrobial Topographies

Microbial contamination of polymer surfaces has become a significant challenge in domestic, industrial, and biomedical applications. Recent progress in our understanding of how topographical features of different length scales can be used to effectively and selectively control the attachment and proliferation of different cell types has provided an alternative strategy for imparting antibacterial activity to these surfaces. Among the well-recognized engineered models of antibacterial surface topographies, self-organized wrinkles have shown particular promise with respect to their antimicrobial characteristics. Here, we critically review the mechanisms by which wrinkles form on the surface of different types of polymer material and how they interact with various biomolecules and cell types. We also discuss the feasibility of using this antimicrobial strategy in real-life biomedical applications. A self-organized wrinkled topography is a potential candidate for the next generation of antibacterial surfaces.A wrinkled topography comprises two characteristic parameters: an amplitude and a wavelength.Wrinkled surfaces containing lubricants, polymer brushes, and fluorinated polymers have antifouling activity via chemical pathways. The scale of the hierarchical wrinkled topology and the stability of air entrapment inhibit microbial attachment by physically limiting the available surface area under static conditions.Wrinkled topographies derived from graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, or nanosilver show excellent antimicrobial activity due to the intrinsic bactericidal property of these materials.The integration of appropriate materials into wrinkled topographies results in greater control over their interactions with biomolecules and cell lines for biomedical applications.