Innovative Surface Treatments for Anti-Microbial and Anti-Fouling Performance
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: antibacterial biomaterials; the surface modification of biomaterials
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to invite you to submit your research to this Special Issue, "Innovative Surface Treatments for Anti-Microbial and Anti-Fouling Performance".
Innovative surface treatments for antimicrobial and antifouling performance are of great significance in various fields. These treatments aim to prevent the adhesion and growth of microorganisms, reducing the risk of infection and fouling-related problems. Methods include using mussel-inspired dopamine chemistry to prepare zwitterionic polymer coatings, grafting mixed polymer brushes, and modifying surfaces with micro-structures. Some treatments also incorporate antimicrobial agents like silver nanoparticles or use bioresorbable polymers. By changing the surface topography, chemistry, and wettability, these innovative treatments can effectively inhibit the adhesion of bacteria and other organisms, show excellent antimicrobial and antifouling properties, and have broad application prospects in biomedical, marine, and water treatment fields.
This Special Issue will present the latest designs and developments in innovative surface treatments for antimicrobial and antifouling performance through original research papers and review articles from leading scientists and engineers across the world.
In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Types of Innovative Surface Treatments
(1) Explore different chemical modification methods for creating antimicrobial and antifouling surfaces, such as the application of specific functional coatings.
(2) Investigate physical surface treatment techniques like plasma treatment or laser texturing for achieving the desired performance.
2. Antimicrobial Mechanisms in Surface Treatments
(1) Analyze how the treated surfaces interact with various microorganisms to inhibit their growth and reproduction.
(2) Study the role of incorporated antimicrobial agents (e.g., metal nanoparticles, organic antimicrobial compounds) in the surface treatments.
3. Antifouling Mechanisms and Evaluation
(1) Examine the ways in which the innovative surfaces prevent the attachment of fouling substances like biofilms, proteins, and organic matter.
(2) Discuss different methods for evaluating the antifouling performance of the treated surfaces, including laboratory tests and real-world simulations.
4. Application Areas of the Treated Surfaces
(1) Focus on the use of these antimicrobial and antifouling surfaces in the biomedical field, such as on medical implants or hospital equipment.
(2) Explore their applications in marine environments, like on ship hulls to reduce biofouling and improve fuel efficiency.
(3) Investigate their potential in food processing and packaging industries to enhance hygiene and product shelf life.
5. Durability and Long-Term Performance of Treatments
(1) Research how the antimicrobial and antifouling properties of the treated surfaces change over time under different environmental conditions.
(2) Study strategies to improve the durability of the surface treatments to ensure long-term effectiveness.
6. Environmental and Safety Considerations
(1) Analyze the potential environmental impacts of the materials and processes used in the surface treatments.
(2) Evaluate the safety aspects regarding human contact and the disposal of the treated surfaces.
Dr. Chen Zhang
Prof. Dr. Dejing Li
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- surface treatment
- antimicrobial
- antifouling
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