Highlights• Zinc Oxide thin films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering;• Inclined columns changed the thin films' surface porosity;• Sputtering incidence angle affects microstructure and antifungal properties;• Mesoporous thin films improved the antifungal properties against Candida albicans;
ABSTRACTThin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) were produced by reactive DC magnetron sputtering with sputtering angles of α = 0º, 40º, 60º and 80º (glancing angle deposition configuration), aiming to be tested against the opportunist pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The results showed the formation of stoichiometric ZnO thin films, with inclined columns for incidence angles equal to or more than 40º. All thin films presented high transparency in the visible range above the bandgap region (near 380 nm). The deposition conditions gave rise to a three-fold increase of the surface porosity with the increment of the incidence angle. Noteworthy, is the formation of different types of pores distributions, from micro-, through meso-, to macropores. Regarding the biological effect, the thin films produced with inclined columns presented a significant antifungal activity, with the inhibition of viable cell growth by 68 %. Moreover, the formation of mesoporous films enhanced the antifungal properties of ZnO thin films against Candida albicans. The overall behaviour indicates that these thin films are promising candidates to be applied in antimicrobial surfaces, as well as to be used in further studies to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the antimicrobial action of ZnO.3