Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Nanopatterned surfaces inactivate bacteria by mechanically deforming adherent cells, yet design guidelines remain inconsistent and studies rarely isolate the role of cell shape. Here, we show how cell shape governs responses to nanopatterned surfaces. We develop a thermodynamic model coupling envelope stretching and bending with cell-surface adhesion to compare spherical and rod-shaped bacteria with identical cross-sections. We find that nanopatterning increases strain for both shapes, while cell shape changes how cells attain that strain. We show that spherical and rod-shaped cells adopt different adhesion geometries and energy balances even when they experience similar strains. Rod-shaped cells reach higher strains at lower nanopillar densities over much of the design space, while nanopillar radius and density tune cell shape-dependent strain differences. We identify nanopatterns that preferentially strain either shape or balance their responses using Pareto analysis. Together, our results establish cell shape as a key design consideration for tailoring bactericidal nanopatterned materials.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7220662616