Enzymatic generation of hydrogen peroxide shows promising antifouling effect

Biomimetic surface coatings for marine antifouling: Natural antifoulants, synthetic polymers and surface microtopography

Marine biofouling is a ubiquitous problem that accompanies human marine activities and marine industries. It exerts detrimental impacts on the economy, environment, ecology, and safety. Traditionally, mainstream approaches utilize metal ions to prevent biological contamination, but this also leads to environmental pollution and damage to the ecosystem. Efficient and environmentally friendly coatings are urgently needed to prevent marine devices from biofouling. Since nature is always the best teacher for humans, it offers us delightful thoughts on the research and development of high-efficiency, broad-spectrum and eco-friendly antifouling coatings. In this work, we focus on the research frontier of marine antifouling coatings from a bionic perspective. Enlightened by three distinctive dimensions of bionics: chemical molecule bionic, physiological mechanism bionic, and physical structure bionic, the research status of three main bioinspired strategies, which are natural antifoulants, bioinspired polymeric antifouling coatings, and biomimetic surface microtopographies, respectively, are demonstrated. The antifouling mechanisms are further interpreted based on biomimetic comprehension. The main fabrication methods and antifouling performances of these coatings are presented along with their advantages and drawbacks. Finally, the challenges are summarized, and future research prospects are proposed. It is believed that biomimetic antifouling strategies will contribute to the development of nontoxic antifouling techniques with exceptional repellency and stability.

Honey-inspired antimicrobial hydrogels resist bacterial colonization through twin synergistic mechanisms

Inspired by the interesting natural antimicrobial properties of honey, biohybrid composite materials containing a low-fouling polymer hydrogel network and an encapsulated antimicrobial peroxide-producing enzyme have been developed. These synergistically combine both passive and active mechanisms for reducing microbial bacterial colonization. The mechanical properties of these materials were assessed using compressive mechanical analysis, which revealed these hydrogels possessed tunable mechanical properties with Young's moduli ranging from 5 to 500 kPa. The long-term enzymatic activities of these materials were also assessed over a 1-month period using colorimetric assays. Finally, the passive low-fouling properties and active antimicrobial activity against a leading opportunistic pathogen, Staphylococcus epidermidis, were confirmed using bacterial cell counting and bacterial adhesion assays. This study resulted in non-adhesive substrate-permeable antimicrobial materials, which could reduce the viability of planktonic bacteria by greater than 7 logs. It is envisaged these new biohybrid materials will be important for reducing bacterial adherence in a range of industrial applications.

Structure and function relationships of sugar oxidases and their potential use in biocatalysis

Several sugar oxidases that catalyze the oxidation of sugars have been isolated and characterized. These enzymes can be classified as flavoenzyme due to the presence of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as a cofactor. Sugar oxidases have been proposed to be the key biocatalyst in biotransformation of carbohydrates which can potentially convert sugars to provide a pool of intermediates for synthesis of rare sugars, fine chemicals and drugs. Moreover, sugar oxidases have been applied in biosensing of various biomolecules in food industries, diagnosis of diseases and environmental pollutant detection. This review provides the discussions on general properties, current mechanistic understanding, structural determination, biocatalytic application, and biosensor integration of representative sugar oxidase enzymes, namely pyranose 2-oxidase (P2O), glucose oxidase (GO), hexose oxidase (HO), and oligosaccharide oxidase. The information regarding the relationship between structure and function of these sugar oxidases points out the key properties of this particular group of enzymes that can be modified by engineering, which had resulted in a remarkable economic importance.

Flexible Hydrophobic Antifouling Coating with Oriented Nanotopography and Nonleaking Capsaicin

Incorporating natural product antifoulants (NPAs) into coatings with controlled surface topography is considered a promising way to suppress marine fouling. However, the rapid leakage of NPAs and the relatively complicated process of constructing well-patterned topography remain unresolved problems for practical applications. In this work, capsaicin bonded to CoFe₂O₄/gelatin magnetic nanoparticles was mixed with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based block copolymer. When applied together by a simple spray-coating method, these materials formed a film. The leakage of capsaicin was restrained by the chemical bonds with the CoFe₂O₄/gelatin nanospheres. The primary nanorough structure was constructed by the phase separation of the PDMS-based copolymer. The secondary nanorough structure was formed by the incorporation of capsaicin-loaded CoFe₂O₄/gelatin nanospheres, which were demonstrated to improve the orientation of the PDMS-based block copolymer chains. The combination of oriented nanotopography and nonleaking capsaicin endows the coating with enhanced, long-lasting antifouling ability.

Fouling-release and chemical activity effects of a siloxane-based material on tunicates

The antifouling performance of a siloxane-based elastomeric impression material (EIM) was compared to that of two silicone fouling-release coatings, Intersleek 757 and RTV-11. In field immersion trials, the EIM caused the greatest reduction in fouling by the solitary tunicate Ciona intestinalis and caused the longest delay in the progression of fouling by two species of colonial tunicate. However, in pseudobarnacle adhesion tests, the EIM had higher attachment strengths. Further laboratory analyses showed that the EIM leached alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) that were toxic to C. intestinalis larvae. The EIM thus showed the longest duration of chemical activity measured to date for a siloxane-based coating (4 months), supporting investigations of fouling-release coatings that release targeted biocides. However, due to potential widespread effects of APEs, the current EIM formulation should not be considered as an environmentally-safe antifoulant. Thus, the data also emphasize consideration of both immediate and long-term effects of potentially toxic constituents released from fouling-release coatings.

Use of microcapsules as controlled release devices for coatings

Biofouling of surfaces is a considerable problem in many industrial sectors and for the public community in general. The problem is usually approached by the use of functional coatings and most of such antifouling coatings rely on the effect of biocides. However, a substantial drawback is the poor control over the release of the biocide as well as its degradation in the paint. Encapsulation of the biocides in microcapsules is a promising approach that may overcome some of the problems associated with the more traditional ways of incorporating the antifouling agent into the formulation. In this review, we summarize more than a decade of microcapsule research from our lab as well as from other groups working on this topic. Focus will be on two coacervation-based encapsulation techniques; the internal phase separation method and the double emulsion method, which together enable the encapsulation of a broad spectrum of biocides with different physicochemical properties. The release of the biocide from core-shell particles and from encapsulated biocides in coatings is treated in detail. The release behaviour is interpreted in terms of the physicochemical properties of the core-shell particle and the coating matrix. In addition, special attention is given to the experimental release methodology and the implementation of proper diffusion models to describe the release. At the end of the review examples of antifouling properties of some coatings against common biofoulers are presented.

Architecture of modified silica resin coatings with various micro/nano patterns for fouling resistance: microstructure and antifouling performance

A series of modified silicone surfaces with different textures, shapes and surface roughnesses were fabricated. Those with sizes smaller than algae were effective in inhibiting N. closterium, P. tricornutum and Chlorella with reduction ratios of 49%, 75% and 81%.

Mini-review: impact and dynamics of surface fouling by solitary and compound ascidians

Globally, ascidians are a significant contributor to benthic marine fouling communities, but have remained poorly studied in this context. In some cases, such as in shellfish and finfish aquaculture, ascidians are the most problematic of all fouling organisms. The disproportionate impact of ascidian fouling in some specific geographic locations has been related directly to anthropogenic translocation of these organisms around the globe. In the case of ascidians, therefore, the economic issue of biofouling and the ecological ramifications of invasion are inextricably linked. This mini-review briefly discusses the introduction of non-native ascidians to areas where they have subsequently proven to be a significant fouling pest. The elements of ascidian reproductive ecology that support their aggressive fouling character are discussed and the scant information pertaining to their adhesion and adhesives is presented. Finally, strategies for mitigating ascidian fouling are examined. It is suggested that sufficient working knowledge currently exists to support the inclusion of one or more common ascidian species as 'standard' test organisms used for evaluation of novel fouling-resistant surfaces.

Anti-biofilm performance of three natural products against initial bacterial attachment

Marine bacteria contribute significantly towards the fouling consortium, both directly (modern foul release coatings fail to prevent "slime" attachment) and indirectly (biofilms often excrete chemical cues that attract macrofouling settlement). This study assessed the natural product anti-biofilm performance of an extract of the seaweed, Chondrus crispus, and two isolated compounds from terrestrial sources, (+)-usnic acid and juglone, against two marine biofilm forming bacteria, Cobetia marina and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus. Bioassays were developed using quantitative imaging and fluorescent labelling to test the natural products over a range of concentrations against initial bacterial attachment. All natural products affected bacterial attachment; however, juglone demonstrated the best anti-biofilm performance against both bacterial species at a concentration range between 5-20 ppm. In addition, for the first time, a dose-dependent inhibition (hormetic) response was observed for natural products against marine biofilm forming bacteria.

Effective bacterial inactivation and removal of copper by porous ceramics with high surface area

In this study, we present porous ceramics combining the antibacterial effect of copper with an integrated copper removal adsorbent. After preparing and characterizing the antibacterial copper-doped microbeads and monoliths (CuBs and CuMs), their antibacterial efficiency is probed against different nonpathogenic and pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). An antibacterial efficiency of 100% is reached within 15 min to 3 h for all tested strains under static conditions. Dynamic tests with B. subtilis and E. coli showed high antibacterial efficiency up to 99.93% even at continuous flux. To avoid any adverse effects on the environment, continuous removal of released copper-ions is accomplished with porous, high surface area monolithic adsorbents (MAds). MAds are prepared similarly to the CuMs but without adding copper during the manufacturing process. MAds reduce the amount of copper released from the CuMs ≥ 99% during the first 15 min, ≥90% up to 2 h, and after 22 h of continuous filtration up to 56% of the released copper is removed.

Entrapment of subtilisin in ceramic sol-gel coating for antifouling applications

Enzymes with antifouling properties are of great interest in developing nontoxic antifouling coatings. A bottleneck in developing enzyme-based antifouling coatings is to immobilize the enzyme in a suitable coating matrix without compromising its activity and stability. Entrapment of enzymes in ceramics using the sol-gel method is known to have several advantages over other immobilization methods. The sol-gel method can be used to make robust coatings, and the aim of this study was to explore if sol-gel technology can be used to develop robust coatings harboring active enzymes for antifouling applications. We successfully entrapped a protease, subtilisin (Savinase, Novozymes), in a ceramic coating using a sol-gel method. The sol-gel formulation, when coated on a stainless steel surface, adhered strongly and cured at room temperature in less than 8 h. The resultant coating was smoother and less hydrophobic than stainless steel. Changes in the coating's surface structure, thickness and chemistry indicate that the coating undergoes gradual erosion in aqueous medium, which results in release of subtilisin. Subtilisin activity in the coating increased initially, and then gradually decreased. After 9 months, 13% of the initial enzyme activity remained. Compared to stainless steel, the sol-gel-coated surfaces with active subtilisin were able to reduce bacterial attachment of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by 2 orders of magnitude. Together, our results demonstrate that the sol-gel method is a promising coating technology for entrapping active enzymes, presenting an interesting avenue for enzyme-based antifouling solutions.

Joint-action of antifouling substances in copper-free paints

Due to the environmentally harmful impact of tributyltin self-polishing paints, there is a critical need of more ecological alternatives. The aim of the present work is to study the joint-action of three molecules chosen in order to combine the two modes of prevention: chemical and physical repelling of biofouling. This "hybrid" system is principally dedicated to disturb durable settlement of microfouling. Each component was chosen according to its specific properties: chlorhexidine is a bisdiguanide antiseptic with antibacterial activity, zinc peroxide is an inorganic precursor of high instable entities which react with seawater to create hydrogen peroxide, Tween 85 is a non ionic surfactant disturbing interactions between colonizing organisms and surface. Obtained results highlighted the interest on mixing such molecules to get additive action on antifouling efficiency.

Antibacterial surfaces developed from bio-inspired approaches

Prevention of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on the surfaces of materials is a topic of major medical and societal importance. Various synthetic approaches based on immobilization or release of bactericidal substances such as metal derivatives, polyammonium salts and antibiotics were extensively explored to produce antibacterial coatings. Although providing encouraging results, these approaches suffer from the use of active agents which may be associated with side-effects such as cytotoxicity, hypersensibility, inflammatory responses or the progressive alarming phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. In addition to these synthetic approaches, living organisms, e.g. animals and plants, have developed fascinating strategies over millions of years to prevent efficiently the colonization of their surfaces by pathogens. These strategies have been recently mimicked to create a new generation of bio-inspired biofilm-resistant surfaces. In this review, we discuss some of these bio-inspired methods devoted to the development of antibiofilm surfaces. We describe the elaboration of antibacterial coatings based on natural bactericidal substances produced by living organisms such as antimicrobial peptides, bacteriolytic enzymes and essential oils. We discuss also the development of layers mimicking algae surfaces and based on anti-quorum-sensing molecules which affect cell-to-cell communication. Finally, we report on very recent strategies directly inspired from marine animal life and based on surface microstructuring.

Multi-seasonal barnacle (Balanus improvisus) protection achieved by trace amounts of a macrocyclic lactone (ivermectin) included in rosin-based coatings

Rosin-based coatings loaded with 0.1% (w/v) ivermectin were found to be effective in preventing colonization by barnacles (Balanus improvisus) both on test panels as well as on yachts for at least two fouling seasons. The leaching rate of ivermectin was determined by mass-spectroscopy (LC/MS-MS) to be 0.7 ng cm(-2) day(-1). This low leaching rate, as deduced from the Higuchi model, is a result of the low loading, low water solubility, high affinity to the matrix and high molar volume of the model biocide. Comparison of ivermectin and control areas of panels immersed in the field showed undisturbed colonisation of barnacles after immersion for 35 days. After 73 days the mean barnacle base plate area on the controls was 13 mm(2), while on the ivermectin coating it was 3 mm(2). After 388 days, no barnacles were observed on the ivermectin coating while the barnacles on the control coating had reached a mean of 60 mm(2). In another series of coated panels, ivermectin was dissolved in a cosolvent mixture of propylene glycol and glycerol formal prior to the addition to the paint base. This method further improved the anti-barnacle performance of the coatings. An increased release rate (3 ng cm(-2) day(-1)) and dispersion of ivermectin, determined by fluorescence microscopy, and decreased hardness of the coatings were the consequences of the cosolvent mixture in the paint. The antifouling mechanism of macrocyclic lactones, such as avermectins, needs to be clarified in further studies. Beside chronic intoxication as ivermectin is slowly released from the paint film even contact intoxication occurring inside the coatings, triggered by penetration of the coating by barnacles, is a possible explanation for the mode of action and this is under investigation.

Engineered antifouling microtopographies: kinetic analysis of the attachment of zoospores of the green alga Ulva to silicone elastomers

Microtopography has been demonstrated as an effective deterrent to biofouling. The majority of published studies are fixed-time assays that raise questions regarding the kinetics of the attachment process. This study investigated the time-dependent attachment density of zoospores of Ulva, in a laboratory assay, on a micropatterned and smooth silicone elastomer. The attachment density of zoospores was reduced on average 70-80% by the microtopography relative to smooth surfaces over a 4 h exposure. Mapping the zoospore locations on the topography revealed that they settled preferentially in specific, recessed areas of the pattern. The kinetic data fit, with high correlation (r(2) > 0.9), models commonly used to describe the adhesion of bacteria to surfaces. The grouping of spores on the microtopography indicated that the pattern inhibited the ability of attached spores to recruit neighbors. This study demonstrates that the antifouling mechanism of topographies may involve disruption of the cooperative effects exhibited by fouling organisms such as Ulva.

Antifouling coatings: recent developments in the design of surfaces that prevent fouling by proteins, bacteria, and marine organisms

The major strategies for designing surfaces that prevent fouling due to proteins, bacteria, and marine organisms are reviewed. Biofouling is of great concern in numerous applications ranging from biosensors to biomedical implants and devices, and from food packaging to industrial and marine equipment. The two major approaches to combat surface fouling are based on either preventing biofoulants from attaching or degrading them. One of the key strategies for imparting adhesion resistance involves the functionalization of surfaces with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or oligo(ethylene glycol). Several alternatives to PEG-based coatings have also been designed over the past decade. While protein-resistant coatings may also resist bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation, in order to overcome the fouling-mediated risk of bacterial infection it is highly desirable to design coatings that are bactericidal. Traditional techniques involve the design of coatings that release biocidal agents, including antibiotics, quaternary ammonium salts (QAS), and silver, into the surrounding aqueous environment. However, the emergence of antibiotic- and silver-resistant pathogenic strains has necessitated the development of alternative strategies. Therefore, other techniques based on the use of polycations, enzymes, nanomaterials, and photoactive agents are being investigated. With regard to marine antifouling coatings, restrictions on the use of biocide-releasing coatings have made the generation of nontoxic antifouling surfaces more important. While considerable progress has been made in the design of antifouling coatings, ongoing research in this area should result in the development of even better antifouling materials in the future.

Oxygen-generating nanofiber cell scaffolds with antimicrobial properties

Many next-generation biomaterials will need the ability to not only promote healthy tissue integration but to simultaneously resist bacterial colonization and resulting biomaterials-associated infection. For this purpose, antimicrobial nanofibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) were fabricated by incorporating calcium peroxide. PCL nanofibers containing different ratios of calcium peroxide (1%, 5% and 10% (w/w)) with or without ascorbic acid were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Antimicrobial evaluations confirmed the inhibitory properties of the nanofibers on the growth of E. coli and S. epidemidis because of a significant burst release of calcium peroxide from the nanofibers. Analysis of tissue cell response showed that despite an initial toxic effect over the first 24 h, after 4 days of culture, osteoblast viability and morphology were both healthy. These results demonstrate that oxygen-generating nanofibers can be designed and developed to provide a short-term peroxide-based antimicrobial response while still maintaining attractive tissue-integration properties.

Investigation of the role of hydrophilic chain length in amphiphilic perfluoropolyether/poly(ethylene glycol) networks: towards high-performance antifouling coatings

The facile preparation of amphiphilic network coatings having a hydrophobic dimethacryloxy-functionalized perfluoropolyether (PFPE-DMA; M(w) = 1500 g mol(-1)) crosslinked with hydrophilic monomethacryloxy functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomers (PEG-MA; M(w) = 300, 475, 1100 g mol(-1)), intended as non-toxic high-performance marine coatings exhibiting antifouling characteristics is demonstrated. The PFPE-DMA was found to be miscible with the PEG-MA. Photo-cured blends of these materials containing 10 wt% of PEG-MA oligomers did not swell significantly in water. PFPE-DMA crosslinked with the highest molecular weight PEG oligomer (ie PEG1100) deterred settlement (attachment) of algal cells and cypris larvae of barnacles compared to a PFPE control coating. Dynamic mechanical analysis of these networks revealed a flexible material. Preferential segregation of the PEG segments at the polymer/air interface resulted in enhanced antifouling performance. The cured amphiphilic PFPE/PEG films showed decreased advancing and receding contact angles with increasing PEG chain length. In particular, the PFPE/PEG1100 network had a much lower advancing contact angle than static contact angle, suggesting that the PEG1100 segments diffuse to the polymer/water interface quickly. The preferential interfacial aggregation of the larger PEG segments enables the coating surface to have a substantially enhanced resistance to settlement of spores of the green seaweed Ulva, cells of the diatom Navicula and cypris larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite as well as low adhesion of sporelings (young plants) of Ulva, adhesion being lower than to a polydimethyl elastomer, Silastic T2.