Nano-scale superhydrophobicity: suppression of protein adsorption and promotion of flow-induced detachment

Superhydrophobic surfaces are extremely water repellent, but proteins have been shown to adhere to them. Here we show that although superhydrophobic surfaces can allow greater protein adsorption under static conditions, fluid flow over a nano-scale superhydrophobic surface can result in clean surfaces. Possible mechanisms that explain such behaviour include decreased contact between protein and surface and greater shear stress due to interfacial slip between the superhydrophobic surface and the liquid