Role of the Surface Nanoscale Roughness of Stainless Steel on Bacterial Adhesion and Microcolony Formation

Abstract

. Fluorescence images and scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the bacterial cells tend to adhere individually as single cells on untreated rough surfaces. In contrast, clusters of the bacterial cells (microcolonies) were observed on electropolished smooth surfaces. Our study demonstrates that nanoscale surface roughness can play an important role in restraining bacterial adhesion and formation of microcolonies.