![]() ![]() The nanopillars are known to damage bacteria by physically puncturing the bacterial envelope, inducing deformation –. It has been established that the antimicrobial properties of the wings of cicada, damselfly fly, and dragon flies are mediated by the physical nanoprotrusions or nanopillars found on the wing surface. Various insect wings such as cicada (e.g., Psaltoda claripennis) (Ashton, 1921), damselfly fly (e.g., Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis (Vander Linden, 1825) and dragonfly (e.g., Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798)) maintain contaminant-free status and possess antimicrobial properties –. The wings enable a myriad of ecologically important behaviors including flight, thermal collection, gyroscopic stabilization, sound production, fellow species recognition, sexual overtures and contact, and protective cover –. Insect wings are membranous, parchment-like, heavily sclerotized, and can be fringed with long hairs or covered with scales. Insect wings have nanometer-sized structures with the potential to break EPS. Also, nanomaterials can generate lethal damage to microbes through a physical process that destroys extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) using either enzymes or mechanical forces. ![]() Nanomaterials may act as carriers, delivering antibiotics to bacteria increasing drug potency and minimizing overall drug exposure. The bactericidal mechanisms associated with nanomaterials are generally divided into two major categories. Nanomaterials are a promising means in curbing the use of antibiotics due to their mechanism of preventing bacterial attachment to kill bacteria. The accelerated spread of antibiotic resistance is due to the inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics in the past few decades. In recent years the number of infections associated with antimicrobial resistance has increased and is emerging as one of the leading public health threats of the 21st century. Our findings demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating honeybee wings nanopatterns into the design of antibacterial nanomaterials which can be translated into countless applications in healthcare and industry. Electron microscopy revealed that the wings were studded with an array of rough, sharp, and pointed pillars that were distributed on both the dorsal and ventral sides, which enhanced anti-biofouling and antimicrobial effects. The fore wing was effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive samples. The antimicrobial activities of the wings were extremely effective at inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacterial cells when compared to Gram-positive bacterial cells. Also, the wings displayed antimicrobial properties that disrupt microbial cells and inhibit their growth. Here, through antimicrobial and electron microscopy studies, we showed that pristine honeybee wings displayed no microbes on the wing surface. The role topography plays in antibiofouling, and antimicrobial activity of honeybee wings has never been investigated. In contrast, the topography of honeybee wings has received less attention. These wings are covered by periodic topography ranging from highly ordered hexagonal arrays of nanopillars to intricate “Christmas-tree” like structures with the ability to kill microbes by physically rupturing the cell membrane. The wings of cicadas, butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies have evolved phenomenal anti-biofouling and antimicrobial properties. Heretofore, the natural antimicrobial properties of insect wings have inspired research into their applications. Natural surfaces with remarkable properties and functionality have become the focus of intense research.
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