TY  - JOUR
AV  - public
JF  - Nanoscale
IS  - 41
KW  - Science & Technology
KW  -  Physical Sciences
KW  -  Technology
KW  -  Chemistry
KW  -  Multidisciplinary
KW  -  Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
KW  -  Materials Science
KW  -  Multidisciplinary
KW  -  Physics
KW  -  Applied
KW  -  Chemistry
KW  -  Science & Technology - Other Topics
KW  -  Materials Science
KW  -  Physics
KW  -  BACTERICIDAL PROPERTIES
KW  -  CELLS
SP  - 17603
N2  - Bioinspired nanostructured materials that exhibit antimicrobial properties are being synthesized and tested at increasing rates for use in healthcare, manufacturing processes, and diagnostics. Although progress has been made in improving and understanding their bactericidal activity, arguably, the biggest problem currently in the field is the lack of a standard testing methodology that allows for optimal characterization and better comparison of emerging nanostructures. Here, we examine two forms of nanostructured silicon that vary in their ability to kill certain bacterial species due to different physical mechanisms and derive guidelines for the comparative testing. We perform a comprehensive evaluation of methodologies used extensively in the field (e.g., colony counting and live dead analysis) and the novel application of high-throughput flow cytometry. The data reveal how the techniques are complementary but not always directly equivalent or correlative. Therefore, comparison of results obtained using different methodologies on different materials can be grossly misleading. We report significant variations in bactericidal efficiencies depending on experimental environments (medium type, etc.) and methodologies employed. In addition, we demonstrate how cytometry is yet another powerful complementary tool that can aid the mechanistic understanding of antimicrobial activities of rough surfaces. Besides standardization for comparison, ultimately, evaluation methods need to consider anticipated applications. Then and only then can the true potential (or limitation) of a novel material be determined for its suitability for advancement in a particular field of use.
EP  - 17614
A1  - Michalska, M
A1  - Divan, R
A1  - Noirot, P
A1  - Laible, PD
UR  - http://doi.org/10.1039/d1nr02953c
VL  - 13
ID  - discovery10138187
N1  - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher?s terms and conditions.
PB  - ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
Y1  - 2021/10/18/
TI  - Antimicrobial properties of nanostructured surfaces - demonstrating the need for a standard testing methodology
ER  -