# Nanostructured Hydrogels: A Method to Prevent Biofilms on Implantable Medical Devices

## TL;DR

This review explores how nanostructured hydrogels can prevent microbial biofilms on medical implants, offering an alternative to antibiotics.

## Contribution

The paper reviews the potential of nanostructured hydrogels as anti-biofouling materials and evaluates nanopatterning methods.

## Key findings

- Nanostructured surfaces can inhibit microbial attachment and biofilm formation.
- Hydrogels with nanopatterns show promise as biocompatible anti-biofouling materials.
- Current nanopatterning techniques have limitations in cost, scalability, and material compatibility.

## Abstract

Microbial biofilms pose significant health risks by causing infections associated with prosthetic and indwelling medical devices. Factors such as the high tolerance levels of biofilm microorganisms to antibiotics and the inability of antimicrobial agents to penetrate the biofilm matrix render antibiotic-based treatment methods ineffective against biofilm-related infections. Surfaces patterned with nanoscale topographical features have shown promising results in controlling the attachment of microorganisms. Therefore, nanopatterning of surfaces provides an excellent alternative to the existing antibiotic-based therapies. There are many techniques, such as photolithography and soft lithography, for patterning polymer or metal surfaces. However, depending on the cost, toxicity, feature size, and material compatibility, these methods have limitations. Although hydrogels have garnered special interest as biomaterials due to their biocompatibility and resemblance to the natural biological environment, hydrogels with surface nanopatterns have not been widely investigated as anti-biofouling materials. The applicability of hydrogels in biomedical applications and the importance of inhibiting microbial biofilms underscore the need for further research into the manufacturing of nanoengineered hydrogels with diverse topographical features. In this review, we discuss how nanostructured hydrogels inhibit biofilm formation. Further, we discuss nanopatterning methods, their limitations, advantages, and disadvantages. This article also highlights the current state of research on nanostructured hydrogels and associated challenges.