Marine antifouling behavior of the surfaces modified by dopamine and antibacterial peptide

Marine biofouling causes serious harms to surfaces of marine devices in transportation, aquaculture, and offshore construction. Traditional antifouling methods pollute the environment. A novel and green antifouling strategy was developed to prevent effectively the adhesion of bacteria and microalgae. An antifouling surface was fabricated via coating Turgencin B Mox2 (TB) onto dopamine-modified 304 stainless steel (304 SS). The surface physical and chemical properties before and after modification were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), contact angle measurement (CA), 3D optical profilometer, ellipsometer, and atomic force microscope (AFM). Antimicrobial peptide was coated onto the surface of 304 SS successfully, and the surface morphology and wettability of the modified sample were modified. Moreover, cytocompatibility of the peptide was evaluated by co-culture of peptide and cells, indicating promising cell biocompatibility at the modified sample surface. At last, antifouling performance and electrochemical corrosion were tested. Results show that the adhesion rates of Vibrio natriegens and Phaeodactylum tricornutum on the antifouling surface were reduced by 99.85% and 67.93%, respectively from those of untreated samples. Therefore, the modified samples retained superior corrosion resistance. The study provide a simply and green way against biofouling on ship hulls and marine equipment.