%0 Journal Article
%T Optically Responsive, Smart Anti-Bacterial Coatings via the Photofluidization of Azobenzenes.
%A Kehe GM
%A Mori DI
%A Schurr MJ
%A Nair DP
%J ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
%V 11
%N 2
%D Jan 2019 16
%M 30605328
%F 10.383
%R 10.1021/acsami.8b21058
%X Antibacterial strategies sans antibiotic drugs have recently garnered much interest as a mechanism by which to inhibit biofilm formation and growth on surfaces due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Based on the photofluidization of azobenzenes, we demonstrate for the first time the ability achieve up to a 4 log reduction in bacterial biofilms by opto-mechanically activating the disruption and dispersion of biofilms. This unique strategy with which to enable biofilm removal offers a novel paradigm with which to combat antibiotic resistance.