A chemist at the University of Houston, United States, has developed materials for detecting and repelling E. coli.  One material is graphene, which is proving to be an effective antimicrobial.  Rigoberto “Gobet” Advincula, a polymer chemist and professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, published his findings regarding graphene in the journal Chemical Communications.  He and his team have also created a smart film that can turn bacterial adhesion on and off, while also being useful for detecting bacteria.  These findings have been published in the journal Chemistry of Materials.

http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/June2011/061511AdvinculaFellowEcoli.php