A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood

Mubashir Hussain; Mohammad Awashra; Christoffer Kauppinen; Seyed Mehran Mirmohammadi; Nicholas Addy-Tayle; Rosa Peltola; Juho Leskinen; Sami Puustinen; Heikki A. Nurmi; Robin H.A. Ras; Sami Franssila; Ville Jokinen

doi:10.1039/D5NA00433K

A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood

Mubashir Hussain^*
, Mohammad Awashra
, Christoffer Kauppinen
, Seyed Mehran Mirmohammadi
, Nicholas Addy-Tayle
, Rosa Peltola
, Juho Leskinen
, Sami Puustinen
, Heikki A. Nurmi
, Robin H.A. Ras
, Sami Franssila
, Ville Jokinen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

BA6201 RF microsystems

Aalto University
University of Eastern Finland
Kuopio University Hospital
Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A transparent and superhydrophobic (SHB) nanograss coating makes glass capillaries repellent toward protein solutions and blood. The coating is fabricated using atomic layer deposited alumina which is converted into grass-like alumina (GLA) by hot water treatment (HWT). The resulting tubes are transparent and highly repellent towards water and protein solutions (sliding angle <6° for a concentrated albumin solution). The biofluid repellence of the coating reduces hydraulic resistances for protein-rich biofluids, including fetal bovine serum, by 0–50% with the strongest effect for the smallest tubes and lowest Reynolds numbers. This work addresses a knowledge gap where previous studies have mostly focused on pure water for the drag reduction effect. The tubes also show a promising ability to stay clean and transparent on short term exposure to blood, unlike unmodified glass or polymer controls.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67-79
Number of pages	13
Journal	Nanoscale Advances
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00433K
Publication status	Published - 2026
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

Funding from the Research Council of Finland (#341459 CELLREP) is acknowledged. Funding from the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence Program (2022–2029) in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER) (Project Numbers #346109) is acknowledged. Funding received by Sami Puustinen from the Finnish Medical Association (Grant Number 6329) is acknowledged. The work is part of the Research Council of Finland Flagship Program, Photonics Research and Innovation (PREIN), decision number 368651.

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10.1039/D5NA00433KLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Hussain, M., Awashra, M., Kauppinen, C., Mirmohammadi, S. M., Addy-Tayle, N., Peltola, R., Leskinen, J., Puustinen, S., Nurmi, H. A., Ras, R. H. A., Franssila, S., & Jokinen, V. (2026). A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood. Nanoscale Advances, 8(1), 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00433K

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title = "A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood",

abstract = "A transparent and superhydrophobic (SHB) nanograss coating makes glass capillaries repellent toward protein solutions and blood. The coating is fabricated using atomic layer deposited alumina which is converted into grass-like alumina (GLA) by hot water treatment (HWT). The resulting tubes are transparent and highly repellent towards water and protein solutions (sliding angle <6° for a concentrated albumin solution). The biofluid repellence of the coating reduces hydraulic resistances for protein-rich biofluids, including fetal bovine serum, by 0{\textendash}50\% with the strongest effect for the smallest tubes and lowest Reynolds numbers. This work addresses a knowledge gap where previous studies have mostly focused on pure water for the drag reduction effect. The tubes also show a promising ability to stay clean and transparent on short term exposure to blood, unlike unmodified glass or polymer controls.",

author = "Mubashir Hussain and Mohammad Awashra and Christoffer Kauppinen and Mirmohammadi, \{Seyed Mehran\} and Nicholas Addy-Tayle and Rosa Peltola and Juho Leskinen and Sami Puustinen and Nurmi, \{Heikki A.\} and Ras, \{Robin H.A.\} and Sami Franssila and Ville Jokinen",

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doi = "10.1039/D5NA00433K",

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Hussain, M, Awashra, M, Kauppinen, C, Mirmohammadi, SM, Addy-Tayle, N, Peltola, R, Leskinen, J, Puustinen, S, Nurmi, HA, Ras, RHA, Franssila, S & Jokinen, V 2026, 'A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood', Nanoscale Advances, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00433K

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T1 - A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood

AU - Hussain, Mubashir

AU - Awashra, Mohammad

AU - Kauppinen, Christoffer

AU - Mirmohammadi, Seyed Mehran

AU - Addy-Tayle, Nicholas

AU - Peltola, Rosa

AU - Leskinen, Juho

AU - Puustinen, Sami

AU - Nurmi, Heikki A.

AU - Ras, Robin H.A.

AU - Franssila, Sami

AU - Jokinen, Ville

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AB - A transparent and superhydrophobic (SHB) nanograss coating makes glass capillaries repellent toward protein solutions and blood. The coating is fabricated using atomic layer deposited alumina which is converted into grass-like alumina (GLA) by hot water treatment (HWT). The resulting tubes are transparent and highly repellent towards water and protein solutions (sliding angle <6° for a concentrated albumin solution). The biofluid repellence of the coating reduces hydraulic resistances for protein-rich biofluids, including fetal bovine serum, by 0–50% with the strongest effect for the smallest tubes and lowest Reynolds numbers. This work addresses a knowledge gap where previous studies have mostly focused on pure water for the drag reduction effect. The tubes also show a promising ability to stay clean and transparent on short term exposure to blood, unlike unmodified glass or polymer controls.

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JO - Nanoscale Advances

JF - Nanoscale Advances

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A biofluid-repellent nanograss coating enhances flow of protein solutions and preserves transparency of glass capillaries upon exposure to blood

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