Chalmers University researchers develop a MOF-based coating that physically kills bacteria and prevents biofilms without toxic metals.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method to stop bacteria from attaching to surfaces by physically puncturing them before they form biofilms.The approach uses metal-organic frameworks, a material that received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, but applies it in a way researchers say has not been tried before.
The technique avoids antibiotics and toxic metals, two common tools that carry risks like antibiotic resistance and environmental harm.Biofilms are a major problem in healthcare and industry. Once bacteria attach to a surface, they multiply and form a protective slime layer that makes them harder to remove.These films can grow on catheters, implants, ship hulls, and industrial pipes. The result can be hospital infections, fuel inefficiency, clogged infrastructure, and the increased use of harsh chemicals.Instead of chemical-based antibacterial action, the Chalmers team created a surface coating that kills bacteria on contact. Researchers grew one metal-organic framework on top of another to form nanostructures sharp enough to rupture bacterial cells.“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,” said lead author Zhejian Cao, PhD in Materials Engineering.The coating can be added to different materials, including those used in medical devices. Cao said this approach offers a key advantage: “It fights a major global problem, as it eliminates the risk that controlling bacteria will lead to antibiotic resistance.”Precision engineering challengeDesigning the surface required careful control of spacing between the tiny spikes. Too much distance gave bacteria room to settle. Too little spacing reduced pressure and allowed microbes to survive.“If the distance between the nanotips is too large, bacteria can slip through and attach to the surface,” Cao said. He explained that placing them too close has the opposite problem, similar to how a person can lie on a bed of nails without injury.Unlike earlier antibacterial research using metal-organic frameworks, the Chalmers method does not rely on metal ions or chemical release.It works purely by mechanical damage.Suited for large-scale productionThe team believes the technology can be produced at an industrial scale.“These coatings can be produced at much lower temperatures than, for example, the graphene arrays previously developed at Chalmers,” said co-author and MOF researcher Lars Öhrström.He noted that this makes the coating compatible with temperature-sensitive plastics used in implants and may also allow recycled plastics to be used in production.The researchers say the material could help prevent hospital infections, reduce reliance on biocidal paints in marine settings, and improve efficiency in industrial systems.As antibiotic resistance continues to rise globally, they see mechanical antibacterial surfaces as a promising alternative path.The study is published in the journal Advanced Science.
Antibiotic Resistance Biofilms Chalmers University Hospital Infections Medical Implants Metal Organic Frameworks
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
CU health researchers, Boulder County retirement community partner on ‘living lab’The “living lab” model brings existing health studies to retirement communities and gives residents a say in future research.
Read more »
Korean researchers unmask two key defects that hold back silicon solar cell efficiencyResearchers in Korea have developed a new analysis method that reveals combined defect types in silicon heterojunction solar cells.
Read more »
AI can already do the work of 12% of America's workforce, MIT researchers findAI is swiftly reshaping America's labor market, performing many technical and cognitive tasks across a range of industries, study says.
Read more »
Asthma treatment helps half of patients quit steroids, researchers sayJustin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps company. Justin covers anything from politics to sports and entertainment.
Read more »
Mystery of who built over 900 multi-ton Easter Island statues shocks researchers: 'The archaeological Disneyland'The gargantuan heads of Easter Island may have finally tacked on an artist credit — or several, it turns out.
Read more »
Researchers: Americans Holding on to Old Tech Devices Is Hurting the EconomySource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »