3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction

In response to the rise of multidrug-resistant infections, researchers are increasingly focusing on modifying material surfaces through chemical or topographical changes to limit microbial spread. Copper and its alloys are particularly valued for their antimicrobial properties, playing a key role in...

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Main Authors: Aisha Saddiqa Ahmed, Sebastian Wältermann, Pablo María Delfino, Daniel Wyn Müller, Jean–Nicolas Audinot, Jean-François Pierson, Frank Mücklich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009657
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author Aisha Saddiqa Ahmed
Sebastian Wältermann
Pablo María Delfino
Daniel Wyn Müller
Jean–Nicolas Audinot
Jean-François Pierson
Frank Mücklich
author_facet Aisha Saddiqa Ahmed
Sebastian Wältermann
Pablo María Delfino
Daniel Wyn Müller
Jean–Nicolas Audinot
Jean-François Pierson
Frank Mücklich
author_sort Aisha Saddiqa Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description In response to the rise of multidrug-resistant infections, researchers are increasingly focusing on modifying material surfaces through chemical or topographical changes to limit microbial spread. Copper and its alloys are particularly valued for their antimicrobial properties, playing a key role in combating pathogen transmission. To explore the potential of enhancing the antibacterial performance of copper-based alloys, this study focuses on surface modification of binary copper-nickel alloys. The goal is to create periodic microstructures at the scale of a single bacterial cell (Escherichia coli) and explore the bacteria-substrate interaction. Two copper-nickel alloy compositions with 10 and 30 wt-% nickel are selected to assess the impact of nickel on laser-material interaction. Additionally, two surface structures, lines and honeycomb, are fabricated to evaluate how structure type affects bacterial interaction. Results show that the line-like structures on the 10 wt-% nickel alloy enhance bacterial killing, while honeycomb structures show no improvement. Conversely, both laser-structured copper-nickel alloys with 30 wt-% nickel exhibit decreased bacterial killing, attributed to the reduced surface copper concentration (below 60 wt-%) as confirmed by chemical analyses. These findings highlight the importance of copper content and structural compatibility for effective contact-killing performance.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 0264-1275
language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-a055b437b4fc471c82d82d7f662bee992025-08-20T03:41:44ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-10-0125811454510.1016/j.matdes.2025.1145453D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interactionAisha Saddiqa Ahmed0Sebastian Wältermann1Pablo María Delfino2Daniel Wyn Müller3Jean–Nicolas Audinot4Jean-François Pierson5Frank Mücklich6Functional Materials, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany; Université de Lorraine, CNRS, IJL F-54000 Nancy, France; Corresponding author at: Functional Materials, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.Functional Materials, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyAdvanced Instrumentation for Nano-Analytics (AINA), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg; University of Luxembourg, 4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgFunctional Materials, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyAdvanced Instrumentation for Nano-Analytics (AINA), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4422 Belvaux, LuxembourgUniversité de Lorraine, CNRS, IJL F-54000 Nancy, FranceFunctional Materials, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, GermanyIn response to the rise of multidrug-resistant infections, researchers are increasingly focusing on modifying material surfaces through chemical or topographical changes to limit microbial spread. Copper and its alloys are particularly valued for their antimicrobial properties, playing a key role in combating pathogen transmission. To explore the potential of enhancing the antibacterial performance of copper-based alloys, this study focuses on surface modification of binary copper-nickel alloys. The goal is to create periodic microstructures at the scale of a single bacterial cell (Escherichia coli) and explore the bacteria-substrate interaction. Two copper-nickel alloy compositions with 10 and 30 wt-% nickel are selected to assess the impact of nickel on laser-material interaction. Additionally, two surface structures, lines and honeycomb, are fabricated to evaluate how structure type affects bacterial interaction. Results show that the line-like structures on the 10 wt-% nickel alloy enhance bacterial killing, while honeycomb structures show no improvement. Conversely, both laser-structured copper-nickel alloys with 30 wt-% nickel exhibit decreased bacterial killing, attributed to the reduced surface copper concentration (below 60 wt-%) as confirmed by chemical analyses. These findings highlight the importance of copper content and structural compatibility for effective contact-killing performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009657FemtosecondDirect laser interference patterningCopper-nickel alloyAntibacterialPeriodic three-dimensional structuresLine-like structures
spellingShingle Aisha Saddiqa Ahmed
Sebastian Wältermann
Pablo María Delfino
Daniel Wyn Müller
Jean–Nicolas Audinot
Jean-François Pierson
Frank Mücklich
3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
Materials & Design
Femtosecond
Direct laser interference patterning
Copper-nickel alloy
Antibacterial
Periodic three-dimensional structures
Line-like structures
title 3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
title_full 3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
title_fullStr 3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
title_full_unstemmed 3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
title_short 3D periodic microscale structures on binary copper-nickel alloys via fs-DLIP: impact on E. coli-substrate interaction
title_sort 3d periodic microscale structures on binary copper nickel alloys via fs dlip impact on e coli substrate interaction
topic Femtosecond
Direct laser interference patterning
Copper-nickel alloy
Antibacterial
Periodic three-dimensional structures
Line-like structures
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009657
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