biostudies-literatureUnknown5(7)Hannig CSpringtails (Collembola) have a nanostructured cuticle. To evaluate and to understand anti-biofouling properties of springtail cuticles' morphology under different conditions, springtails, shed cuticles and cuticle replicates were studied after incubation with protein solutions and bacterial cultures using common in vitro models. In a second step, they were exposed to human oral environment in situ in order to explore potential application in dentistry. In vitro, the cuticular structures were found to resist wetting by albumin solutions for up to 3 h and colonization by Staphylococcus epidermidis was inhibited. When exposed in the oral cavity, initial pellicle formation was of high heterogeneity: parts of the surface were coated by adsorbed proteins, others remaRoyal Society open science171742https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6083677biostudies-literatureImpact of the springtail's cuticle nanotopography on bioadhesion and biofilm formation in vitro and in the oral cavity.PMC6083677Hannig MHelbig RWerner CHilsenbeck JHannig CfalseImpact of the springtail's cuticle nanotopography on bioadhesion and biofilm formation in vitro and in the oral cavity.Springtails (Collembola) have a nanostructured cuticle. To evaluate and to understand anti-biofouling properties of springtail cuticles' morphology under different conditions, springtails, shed cuticles and cuticle replicates were studied after incubation with protein solutions and bacterial cultures using common in vitro models. In a second step, they were exposed to human oral environment in situ in order to explore potential application in dentistry. In vitro, the cuticular structures were found to resist wetting by albumin solutions for up to 3 h and colonization by Staphylococcus epidermidis was inhibited. When exposed in the oral cavity, initial pellicle formation was of high heterogeneity: parts of the surface were coated by adsorbed proteins, others rema2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Jul2025-04-04T09:46:14.55Z2019-03-26T23:51:34ZS-EPMC60836773010904510.1098/rsos.171742