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Superhydrophobic Fatty Acid-Based Spray Coatings with Dual-Mode Antifungal Activity

Summary

Scientists developed easy-to-apply spray coatings made from natural fatty acids that repel water and kill fungal infections like gray mold. By combining long-chain fatty acids with shorter fatty acids like those found in food preservatives, the coatings can either passively prevent fungus from sticking to surfaces or actively kill it. These coatings are environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides that fungi are becoming resistant to, and could be used to protect everything from building surfaces to stored crops.

Background

Superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by natural phenomena like lotus leaves, combine surface chemistry and hierarchical roughness to create self-cleaning and antibiofouling properties. Fungal infections are increasingly prevalent and resistant to conventional fungicides, necessitating new sustainable approaches. Fatty acids offer natural, nontoxic, and environmentally friendly alternatives for creating multifunctional protective coatings.

Objective

To develop easy-to-apply, sprayable superhydrophobic coatings based on long-chain fatty acids enhanced with medium-chain fatty acids, and to demonstrate their tunable antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea. The study investigates how incorporating sorbic or caprylic acids affects coating structure, physical properties, and antifungal efficacy.

Results

Pure stearic acid coatings exhibited >60% reduction in mycelial growth through passive antibiofouling mechanisms. Addition of 10% caprylic acid completely inhibited fungal growth, while 10% sorbic acid significantly reduced growth in surrounding agar. Coatings with caprylic acid showed gradual release of the acid over time, recovering superhydrophobic properties, while sorbic acid coatings maintained stable properties. FUN-1 staining confirmed reduced metabolic activity and fungal viability on all coated samples.

Conclusion

Synergistic combination of hierarchical superhydrophobic structure and medium-chain fatty acids creates tunable antifungal coatings ranging from passive inhibition to complete fungicidal activity. These sustainable, easily applied spray coatings represent a promising alternative to conventional antifungal strategies without the risks associated with synthetic fungicides or development of resistance.
  • Published in:ACS Applied Bio Materials,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40490924
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