Evolution of antibacterial and antibiofouling properties of sharkskin-patterned surfaces

Abstract

Sharks possess numerous biological features such as highly developed senses and an efficient liver that have stunned researchers over the past few decades. Aside from these, sharks are well known for the ability of their skin to reduce drag force and prevent adhesion of microorganisms such as bacteria. Recently, investigating the antibiofouling properties of sharkskin and particularly the mechanism of antibacterial activities has been trending, and ongoing research studies are conducted to understand the extent of the antibiofouling and identify the possible underlying mechanisms. Hence, in this review, the authors take a look at sharkskin morphology and discoveries thus far regarding its unique attributes and their underlying mechanisms along with possible applications such as catheters, implantable cardiovascular devices and medical devices. The focus of this review is the antibiofouling properties of sharkskin-patterned surfaces prepared through biomimicked and bioinspired approaches in healthcare applications.