Microporous antibacterial surfaces offer a promising route for preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, yet their fabrication often involves complex and energy consuming processes. In this work, we present a sustainable strategy for producing multifunctional antibacterial surfaces by combining a microporous cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) substrate, a bioinspired polydopamine (PDA) coating, and in situ synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). CAB, selected for its film-forming capability and ease of microstructuring via spin-coating, provides a tunable platform for topographical control. PDA, formed through the oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine, serves as a conformal adhesive layer and simultaneously acts as a reductive matrix for AgNP formation. Immersion in silver nitrate solution enables the direct deposition of AgNPs without external reducing agents, facilitated by the catechol functionalities of PDA. The resulting CAB–PDA–AgNP surfaces exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity through the combined effects of patterning, surface chemistry, and silver-mediated bactericidal action. The fabrication process is low-energy and solvent-minimized, aligning with principles of sustainable material development and offering a versatile platform for antibacterial coatings.
Moscolari et al. (Sun,) studied this question.