Health

Self-cleaning medical surfaces
for ventilators

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Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common and serious hospital-acquired infection, often caused by bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on intubation tubes. Despite emerging treatments, challenges remain in ensuring safety, efficacy, and large-scale deployment. Inspired by nature, biomimicry offers a sustainable path to designing self-cleaning surfaces that actively prevent bacterial growth.

Health

Project scope

Medical devices and technologies, scientific equipment & laboratory furniture manufacturer

OBJECTIveS

Reduce biofilm formation in tubing systems without chemical contamination.

Requirements

Lifespan of 3 years
High biofilm reduction (~90%)
Exposure to fluids at variable flow rates
Compatibility with medical material

Let's collaborate
with nature?

Let's collaborate with nature?

Get a DEMO

Problem analysis

Why do ventilators promote biofouling?

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Medical ventilators create a warm, humid, nutrient-rich environment ideal for microbial growth. Despite sterilization efforts, several structural and biological factors facilitate microbial fouling:

Smooth pipe surfaces enable fast bacterial adhesion when in contact with fluids
Surface wear over time reduces anti-adhesion properties
Bacteria adapt and produce biofilms that reinforce their attachment
Nutrients, heat, and stagnant zones create ideal conditions for colonization

AI-driven analysis helped identify the root causes of these issues.

Biological insights

Nature-inspired mechanisms to tackle biofouling challenges

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The biomimetic strategies explored for this project draw on natural adaptations that limit microbial adhesion. Examples include:

Topographic structures: lotus leaves, shark denticle, dragonfly wings, crab shell, duck feathers
Chemical antifouling coatings: Chlorella, Ircinia oros, mussels proteins
Hydrophobic coating: Duck feathers, bark
Self-assembly of a protective layer: Biomineralisation

Together, these approaches inspire robust and durable anti-fouling surfaces for industrial and medical use.

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Asteria then helps you generate ideas of concrete bioinspired concepts leveraging both the various selected biological mechanisms and the modeling of the project's context.

Shark skin directional roughness

Aligned dermal denticles prevent adhesion.

Flow control limits bio-deposit accumulation.

Reduced mechanical attachment.

Lotus leaf self-cleaning

Micro/nano roughness for hierarchical texture.

Rolling droplets remove contaminants.

Reduced contact surface with bacteria.

Crab shell hierarchical surface

Micro/nano-scale texture.

Mechanical repulsion of microorganisms.

Naturally antifouling surface.

Zwitterionic barrier in epithelial cells

Polymers mimic cellular membranes.

Electrostatic repulsion of microbes.

Active biofilm formation blockage.

Mosquito eye nano-texture

Dense structures prevent bacterial anchoring.

Passive self-cleaning through particle rejection.

Physical interference with microbial fixation.

OUTPUT

Brainstorm
by Asteria

Dynamic antimicrobial surface via bacterial biomineralization

description

A dynamic surface leveraging bacterial biomineralization to block biofilm growth. A biocompatible coating attracts beneficial bacteria that mineralize the surface, making it inhospitable to pathogens. Self-renewing and chemical-free.

biological model

Inspired by non-pathogenic bacteria that naturally induce mineral formation, this model uses microbial activity to deposit minerals like calcium carbonate on surfaces. This biological process, common in nature, offers a passive and sustainable way to create antimicrobial barriers.

Design principles

Biomineralization, wettability control, and surface chemistry guide bacteria to create a self-protecting surface.

Invent a new tech

Materials

Initial biocompatible coating + mineral deposits (e.g., calcium carbonate)

Manufacturing process

Targeted coating application followed by in situ bacterial mineral induction

Existing technology

Application research for marine infrastructures : the biomineralization treatment effectively inhibited corrosion because the biomineralized film decreased the total and relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acted as a protective layer to control the diffusion of sulfate and isolate the concrete from the corrosive SRB communities, which helps extend the lifespan of concrete structures. Moreover, this technique had no negative impact on the native marine microbial communities. Our study contributes to the potential application of biomineralization for corrosion inhibition to achieve long-term sustainability for major marine concrete structures (

→ See website

Hierarchical nano-micro surface for biofouling resistance

description

A surface structured at the nano- and micro-scale, inspired by insect leaves and wings. Micro-ridges reduce initial adhesion, while nano-pillars inhibit biofilm formation, creating a hostile environment for bacteria.

biological model

Leaf and insect wing surfaces structuring inducing anti-adhesive properties

Design principles

Hierarchical structuring inducing anti-adhesive properties, bacterial adhesion inhibition

Invent a new tech

Materials

Metal or polymer surfaces with micro-ridges and nano-pillars

Manufacturing process

Laser etching, chemical vapor deposition, or selective electrodeposition

Existing technology

Adaptive Surface Technologies

AST develops SLIPS® coatings that repel liquids, ice, and biofouling. Our non-stick, eco-friendly technology serves medical, marine, and industrial sectors with high durability and performance.

→ See website

Fusion bionics

Natural surface effects, such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, and drag reduction, are replicated on technical materials using precise laser-based techniques.

→ See website

Superhydrophobic self-cleaning coating inspired by lotus

description

A superhydrophobic, self-cleaning pipe coating inspired by the lotus leaf. Its micro/nano texture and low surface energy repel water and dirt. Dynamic covalent bonding allows self-healing and long durability.

biological model

Lotus leaf superhydrophobic surface

Design principles

Wettability control, low surface energy, dynamic bonding

Invent a new tech

Materials

Micro/nano structure combined with low-energy surface materials

Manufacturing process

Spray, dip-coating, or chemical vapor deposition

Existing technology

StoColor® Lotusan®

StoColor Lotusan mimics the lotus leaf’s microstructure to repel water and dirt. Its highly hydrophobic surface minimizes contact, enabling a durable, self-cleaning effect inspired by nature.

→ See website

NASA Lotus Coating

A nano-textured, lotus-inspired coating was developed to repel dust in space environments. Its super-hydrophobic properties prevent particles, liquids, and ice from adhering to surfaces (on Earth and beyond).

→ See website

Biomimetic antibacterial surface inspired by shark skin

description

Shark skin dermal denticle structure

biological model

Shark skin dermal denticle structure

Design principles

Microstructured surface to inhibit bacterial adhesion

Invent a new tech

Materials

Polymers (PC, PET, PU, PLA) or metals (titanium, stainless steel) depending on application

Manufacturing process

Nanoimprint lithography or laser etching of diamond-like microstructure

Existing technology

Sharklet technologies

Sharklet is a micro-patterned surface inspired by sharkskin, designed to inhibit bacterial growth through structure alone. Its diamond-shaped pattern prevents bacterial attachment and biofilm formation without chemicals or additives. The design mimics dermal denticles, which help sharks resist fouling by organisms like algae and barnacles in marine environments.

→ See website