(A) Anti-fouling or QS-interfering surface modification strategies designed to inhibit bacterial adhesion, colonization and biofilm formation. These strategies involve coating surfaces with hydrophilic polymers, engineering superhydrophobic nanostructured surface topography to emulates the lotus leaf effect or applying coatings that releases agents interfering QS. (B) Bactericidal surface modification strategies designed to kill bacteria in direct contact with the surface and/or those in its vicinity. These strategies involve engineering nanostructured surface topography capable of physically rupturing bacteria, covalently tethering bactericidal agents to the surface with stable linkages or linkages labile to bacterial enzyme cleavage or pH perturbations, physically encapsulating bactericidal agents in surface coatings for passive releases, or applying photothermal/photodynamic responsive coatings (e.g. in response to near-infrared, or NIR, irradiation) designed to destruct established biofilms.