SURFACE TOPOGRAPHIES FOR NON-TOXIC BIOADHESION CONTROL

• US 20070227428A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Wilson, Leslie, Brennan, Anthony, Schumacher, James, Estes, Thomas, Baney, Ronald, Feinberg, Adam, Carman, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/67.R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0086 for preferentially controlling or promoting the growth of specific types of cells or tissues of bone tissue onto implantable joints A61F2002/3093
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/009 for hindering or preventing attachment of biological tissue of bone tissue onto implantable joints A61F2002/30932
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/065 the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/36 using mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/04 Preventing hull fouling anti-fouling paints C09D5/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/00 De-icing or preventing icing on exterior surfaces of aircraft motor vehicles specially adapted for carrying de-icing equipment B60P
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00206 Processes for functionalising a surface, e.g. provide the surface with specific mechanical, chemical or biological properties
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2253/12 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]

Abstract

An article has a surface topography for resisting bioadhesion of organisms and includes a base article having a surface. A composition of the surface includes a polymer. The surface has a topography comprising a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into the base article. The plurality of features each have at least one microscale dimension and at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry. An average feature spacing between adjacent ones of the features is between 10 μm and 100 μm in at least a portion of the surface. The surface topography can be numerically represented using at least one sinusoidal function. In one embodiment, the surface can comprise a coating layer disposed on the base article.

Claims

1. An article having a surface topography for resisting bioadhesion of organisms, comprising:

a base article having a surface;

wherein a composition of said surface comprises a polymer, said surface having a topography comprising a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into said base article, said plurality of features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average first feature spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 10 μ

m and 100 μ

m in at least a portion of said surface.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein said surface is monolithically integrated with said base article, wherein a composition of said base article is the same as said composition of said surface.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein said surface comprises a coating layer disposed on said base article.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein said composition of said coating layer is different as compared to a composition of said base article.

5. The article of claim 3, wherein said polymer comprises a non-electrically conductive polymer.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein said polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of elastomers, rubbers, polyurethanes and polysulfones.

7. The coating of claim 1, wherein said topography provides an average roughness factor (R) of from 4 to 50.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein said surface provides an elastic modulus of between 10 kPa and 10 MPa.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein said topography is numerically representable using at least one sinusoidal function.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein said at least one sinusoidal function comprises two different sinusoidal waves.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein said topography comprises a Sharklet topography.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart features have a substantially planar top surface.

13. The article of claim 1, wherein said first feature spacing is between 15 and 60 μ

m.

14. The article of claim 1, further comprising at least one multi-element plateau layer disposed on a portion of said surface, wherein a spacing distance between elements of said plateau layer provide a second feature spacing being substantially different as compared to said first feature spacing.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein said surface comprises a coating layer disposed on said base article.

16. The article of claim 1, wherein said base article comprises a roofing material.

17. The article of claim 14, wherein said base article comprises a water pipe, wherein said surface is provided on an inner surface of a water inlet pipe.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein said inlet pipe is within a power plant.

19. The article of claim 1, wherein said base article comprises an implantable device or material.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein said implantable device or material comprises a breast implant, a catheter or a heart valve.

21. The article of claim 15, wherein an elastic modulus of said coating layer is between 10 kPa and 10 MPa.

22. An article having a surface topography for resisting bioadhesion of organisms, comprising:

a base article having a surface;

wherein a composition of said surface comprises a polymer, said surface having a topography comprising a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into said base article, said plurality of features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average first feature spacing between adjacent ones of said features is microscale and said topography is numerically representable using at least one sinusoidal function.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein said surface comprises a coating layer disposed on said base article.

24. The article of claim 22, wherein said first feature spacing is between 0.5 and 5 μ

m in at least a portion of said surface.

25. The article of claim 22, wherein said first feature spacing is between 15 and 60 μ

m in at least a portion of said surface.

26. The article of claim 22, wherein said at least one sinusoidal function comprises two different sinusoidal waves.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein said topography comprises a Sharklet topography.

28. The article of claim 22, further comprising at least one multi-element plateau layer disposed on a portion of said surface, wherein a spacing distance between elements of said plateau layer provide a second feature spacing being substantially different as compared to said first feature spacing.