Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new way to prevent harmful bacterial biofilms on surfaces such as medical implants, catheters, ship hulls, and industrial pipes. Instead of using antibiotics or toxic metals, they use metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)—this year’s Nobel Prize–winning material—in a new way.
Their study showed that a surface coating of MOFs, structured as tiny spikes, could mechanically puncture and kill bacteria before they can attach and form biofilms.
— Our study shows that these nanostructures can act like tiny spikes that physically injure the bacteria, quite simply puncturing them so that they die. It’s a completely new way of using such metal-organic frameworks, says the study’s lead author Zhejian Cao, PhD in Materials Engineering and researcher at Chalmers, in a press release.
— There have been previous attempts to use metal-organic frameworks for antibacterial purposes, but in those cases the bacteria were killed by toxic metal ions or antimicrobial agents released by the MOFs. Instead, we have grown one MOF on top of another, which results in the formation of sharp nanotips that can puncture and kill the bacteria when they approach.
This method reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance and avoids environmental toxicity. The spacing between the nanotips is crucial: too far apart and bacteria slip through; too close and the force becomes too weak to kill them. The MOF coatings can be produced at low temperatures, making them compatible with sensitive materials and scalable for industrial use. MOFs can also be made from recycled plastics, offering sustainability benefits.