Biomimetic surface modifications of stainless steel targeting dairy fouling mitigation and bacterial adhesion

• Published in: Food and bioproducts processing Vol. 113; pp. 32 - 38
• Main Authors: Zouaghi, Sawsen, Bellayer, Séverine, Thomy, Vincent, Dargent, Thomas, Coffinier, Yannick, Andre, Christophe, Delaplace, Guillaume, Jimenez, Maude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rugby Elsevier B.V 01.01.2019; Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adhesion; Adhesion tests; Antibacterial; Antibiotics; Antifouling; Antifouling coatings; Antifouling substances; Bacteria; Biomimetics; Biomimetism; Calcium; Chemical Sciences; Connecting; Dairy; Dairy products; Foodborne pathogens; Fouling; Laser beam texturing; Lasers; Microbiological strains; Mitigation; Pasteurization; Pathogens; Plasma; Reduction; Slippery liquid-infused surface; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Substrates; Surface properties; Thin films; Whey; Whey protein; Dairy; Plasma; Antibacterial; Slippery liquid-infused surface; Antifouling; Biomimetism
• ISSN: 0960-3085; 1744-3571; 0960-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fbp.2018.10.012

•Surface properties have a deep impact on dairy fouling phenomenon.•Biomimicry is a promising approach for the design of antifouling surfaces.•Nanorough plasma coatings showed good fouling-release and antibacterial properties. This work aims at presenting and comparing the antifouling and antibacterial behaviour of three biomimetic surfaces targeting dairy fouling reduction, namely atmospheric plasma-sprayed silane-based thin films, lubricated slippery surfaces and femtosecond laser textured lotus-like surfaces. Fouling tests were conducted on a pilot-scale pasteurization plant fed with a model whey protein and calcium foulant solution and tested samples were placed in isothermal holding-like conditions. Detailed characterizations of the substrates before and after fouling test allowed connecting their surface properties to their antifouling performances. The best result was obtained with the nano-rough plasma coatings which led to a substantial fouling reduction for two consecutive pasteurisation runs. These surfaces were subsequently tested towards bacterial adhesion with three different foodborne pathogenic strains, again demonstrating better performances than bare stainless steel.