Sharklet

New developments in new nano-engineered plastic surfaces that mimic the mechanically biocidal and anti-fouling effects of shark skin and cicadas wings are leading the way for a new generation of materials that could help to combat bacteria like MRSA that are becoming resistant to many of the antibacterial chemicals we currently use. This material is called Sharklet, because it is based on the marine anti-fouling properties of shark skin. This film is textured at the nanoscale, and it is this 'nanopatterning' that prevents bacterial adhesion. This is to do with the relative size of bacteria and sharklet's surface features, which reduce the surface area with which bacteria can make contact.