posted on 2014-08-05, 00:00authored byAgata
M. Brzozowska, Fernando J. Parra-Velandia, Robert Quintana, Zhu Xiaoying, Serina S. C. Lee, Lim Chin-Sing, Dominik Jańczewski, Serena L.-M. Teo, Julius G. Vancso
When synthetic materials are submerged
in marine environments,
dissolved matter and marine organisms attach to their surfaces by
a process known as marine fouling. This phenomenon may lead to diminished
material performance with detrimental consequences. Bioinspired surface
patterning and chemical surface modifications present promising approaches
to the design of novel functional surfaces that can prevent biofouling
phenomena. In this study, we report the synergistic effects of surface
patterns, inspired by the marine decapod crab Myomenippe hardwickii in combination with chemical surface modifications toward suppressing
marine fouling. M. hardwickii is known to maintain
a relatively clean carapace although the species occurs in biofouling
communities of tropical shallow subtidal coastal waters. Following
the surface analysis of selected specimens, we designed hierarchical
surface microtopographies that replicate the critical features observed
on the crustacean surface. The micropatterned surfaces were modified
with zwitterionic polymer brushes or with layer-by-layer deposited
polyelectrolyte multilayers to enhance their antifouling and/or fouling-release
potential. Chemically modified and unmodified micropatterned surfaces
were subjected to extensive fouling tests, including laboratory assays
against barnacle settlement and algae adhesion, and field static immersion
tests. The results show a statistically significant reduction in settlement
on the micropatterned surfaces as well as a synergistic effect when
the microtopographies are combined with grafted polymer chains.