Methods and treatments for removing contaminants from nanotube surfaces covering a medical device are disclosed herein. These methods and treatments include commencing exposure of a nanotube surface to at least one condition that at least partially removes the contaminants including: ultraviolet light, elevated temperature, plasma, and/or combinations thereof. These methods and treatments may also include orienting the nanotube surface relative to the at least one condition in order to enhance removal of the contaminants by the at least one condition. Exposure of the nanotube surface to the at least one condition may be ceased after the contaminants are at least partially removed from the nanotube surface.

Superhydrophobic conveyor belt components and methods for molding those components out of thermoplastic polymers. The plastic components have superhydrophobic regions on outer surfaces that shed aqueous solutions and remain dry. The water-shedding regions are textured with a nano- or micro-structure that is rough enough to endow the region with superhydrophobic properties.

A condensation management apparatus comprises a first microstructured film arranged to condense water vapor on a substantially vertical surface of a component. The first film comprises channels disposed on first and second major surfaces of the first film and dimensioned to support capillary movement of condensate. The channels have a channel axis substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first film. The longitudinal axis of the first film is tilted at a tilt angle of at least 4 degrees with respect to an axis normal to a direction of gravity. Openings in the channels are disposed at one or both end edges of the first film. The openings provide condensate release locations of the first film. A second film is disposed over a portion of the first film. The second film attaches the first film to the substantially vertical surface of the component.

Methods and apparatus for cleaning a central venous catheter port are disclosed. An apparatus includes a body, a coupling configured to connect the body to the hub, a cleaning cap coupled to the body, and an actuator disposed within the body for rotating and translating the cap relative to the hub. The cleaning cap includes a cap body defining a cavity and a cleaning member disposed within the cavity, the cleaning member having threads that engage with the threads on the hub.

A self-cleaning film system includes a substrate and an anti-reflection film disposed on the substrate. The anti-reflection film includes a first sheet formed from titanium dioxide, a second sheet formed from silicon dioxide and disposed on the first sheet, and a third sheet formed from titanium dioxide and disposed on the second sheet. The system includes a self-cleaning film disposed on the anti-reflection film and including a monolayer disposed on the third sheet and formed from a fluorinated material selected from the group consisting of fluorinated organic compounds, fluorinated inorganic compounds, and combinations thereof. The self-cleaning film includes a first plurality of regions disposed within the monolayer such that each of the first plurality of regions abuts and is surrounded by the fluorinated material and includes a photocatalytic material.

Embodiments, described herein relate generally to devices, systems, and methods for producing lubricious surfaces with enhanced durability and which increase the ease of communication of viscous liquids across the same. The system can include a liquid-encapsulated surface including a substrate, a member coupled to the substrate, and an encapsulating liquid disposed on a surface of the member. In some embodiments, the surface of the member can have a chemistry such that the encapsulating liquid preferentially wets the surface and maintains lubricity in the presence of a contacting phase. In some embodiments, the encapsulating liquid can be substantially immiscible with the contacting phase, and/or can have a thickness of less than about 200 microns and/or can have a receding contact angle of less than 20 degrees in the presence of the contacting phase, in some embodiments, a liquid delivery mechanism can be configured to transfer the encapsulating liquid to the member.

A method for modifying the wettability of a surface of an object can comprise forming on the surface of the object one or more arrays of nanofibers, wherein the one or more arrays of nanofibers includes nanofibers spaced along an X-axis and a Y-axis at the same or different intervals along either axis, the one or more arrays of nanofibers is integral with the object, and the nanofibers all have a base portion that is substantially normal to the surface. The intervals, diameter, and length of the nanofibers of the one or more arrays of nanofibers are selected so that the wettability of the surface for one or more predetermined liquids is increased or decreased relative to the wettability of the surface in the absence of the array of nanofibers.

A self-cleaning film system includes a substrate and an anti-reflection film disposed on the substrate. The anti-reflection film includes a first sheet formed from titanium dioxide, a second sheet formed from silicon dioxide and disposed on the first sheet, and a third sheet formed from titanium dioxide and disposed on the second sheet. The system includes a self-cleaning film disposed on the anti-reflection film and including a monolayer disposed on the third sheet and formed from a fluorinated material selected from the group consisting of fluorinated organic compounds, fluorinated inorganic compounds, and combinations thereof. The self-cleaning film includes a first plurality of regions disposed within the monolayer such that each of the first plurality of regions abuts and is surrounded by the fluorinated material and includes a photocatalytic material.

A self-cleaning film system configured for reducing a visibility of a contaminant includes a substrate and a film. The film includes a monolayer defining a plurality of cavities and formed from a first material having a first surface energy, and a plurality of patches disposed within the plurality of cavities. Each of the patches is formed from a photocatalytic material having a second surface energy that is higher than the first. The film has a touchpoint area having a first use frequency, and a second area having a second use frequency that is less than the first. The patches are present in the touchpoint area in a first concentration and are configured to direct the contaminant towards the second area. The patches are present in the second area in a second concentration that is higher than the first and are configured to reduce the visibility of the contaminant.

A composition comprising nano- or micro-particles grafted onto a surface are disclosed. Process of preparing the compositions and methods of using the same, such as for anti-fogging, anti-fouling and anti-scratching are provided.