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. 2017 Oct 2;15:64. doi: 10.1186/s12951-017-0306-1

Table 1.

Surface topography of natural surfaces exhibiting antibacterial properties

Natural surface Surface Species Nano-texture Geometry Contact angle (°) References
Plant Taro leaf C. esculenta Polygon shape Bulge: 15–30 μm diameter, Papilla: 10–15 μm diameter 159 ± 2 [31, 56]
Lotus leaf N. nucifera Micro-size bulge shape Bulge: 1–5 μm height 142 ± 8.6 [34, 57]
Animal Gecko skin L. steindachneri Hair like nano-structure 4 µm length, top radius of 10–20 nm and submicron spacing 150 [42, 43]
Shark skin Spiny Dogfish 3D riblet micro-structure Triangular riblets, 100–300 µm width, 15 µm peak radius, 200–500 nm height and 100–300 µm spacing [37]
C. brachyurous 3D riblet micro-structure 5 riblets 200–300 µm in height, 20–30 µm diameter and 50–80 µm riblet spacing [38]
Insect Cicada wing M. intermedia Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 241 nm, diameter: 156 nm, spacing: 165 nm 135.5 [46]
A. spectabile Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 182 nm, diameter: 207 nm, spacing: 251 nm 113.2 [46]
C. aguila Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 182 nm, diameter: 159 nm, spacing: 187 nm 95.7 [46]
C. maculata Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 309 nm, diameter: 97 nm, spacing: 92 nm 76.8 ± 13.9 [45]
P. scitula Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 282 nm, diameter: 84 nm, spacing 84 nm 91.9 ± 5.9 [45]
M. hebes Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 164 nm, diameter: 85 nm, spacing: 95 nm 78.4 ± 5 [45]
L. bifuscata Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 200 nm, diameter: 90 nm, spacing: 117 nm 81.3 ± 8.3 [45, 58]
M. conica Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 159 nm, diameter: 95 nm, spacing: 115 nm 93.9 ± 8.3 [45]
M. durga Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 257 nm, diameter: 89 nm, spacing: 89 nm 134.8 ± 5.7 [45]
A. bindusara Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 234 nm, diameter: 84 nm, spacing: 91 nm 135.5 ± 5.2 [45, 58]
M. mongolica Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 417 nm, Diameter: 128 nm, Spacing: 47 nm 123.3 ± 12.7 [45]
P. radha Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 288 nm, diameter: 137 nm, spacing: 44 nm 136.5 ± 5.2 [45]
D. vaginata Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 363 nm, diameter: 132 nm, spacing: 56 nm 141.3 ± 3.3 [45]
D. rasingna Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 316 nm, diameter: 128 nm, spacing: 47 nm 141.6 ± 4.5 [45]
M. opalifer Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 418 nm, diameter: 148 nm, spacing: 48 nm 143.8 ± 6 [45, 58]
T. vacua Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 446 nm, diameter: 141 nm, spacing: 44 nm 144.2 ± 6.8 [45]
T. jinpingensis Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 391 nm, diameter: 141 nm, spacing: 46 nm 146 ± 2.6 [45]
C. atrata Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 462 nm, diameter: 85 nm, spacing: 90 nm 137.9 [58]
P. claripennis Nano-pillar (conical shape) Height: 200 nm, base diameter: 100 nm, cap diameter: 60 nm, spacing: 170 nm 147 ± 47 [11, 12]
Dragonfly wing S. vulgatum Nano-pillar Height: 80–90 nm, diameter: 150–20 nm [49]
Butterfly wing Blue M. didius Scales with aligned micro-grooves Diameter: 1–2 µm, spacing: 1–2 µm 160 [59]