Biomimetic Butenolide Antifoulants Enable Effective Control of Marine Biofouling on Aquaculture Netting

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?A biomimetic butenolide antifoulant was synthesized via a green route and integrated into silicone coatings.The coatings exhibit strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including the marine pathogenic bacteriumVibrio harveyi.Inhibits algal attachment at 8 wt% while preserving planktonic growth, indicating a non-biocidal mechanism.Long-term field tests confirm durable antifouling performance in marine environments.What is the implication of the main finding?Enables sustainable, eco-compatible antifouling coatings for offshore aquaculture applications.Marine biofouling on aquaculture netting compromises mass transfer and structural performance, particularly in high-fouling marine environments. Here, a biomimetic antifoulant based on a butenolide scaffold was synthesized and incorporated into silicone coatings to achieve effective antifouling performance. The antifoulant exhibited bactericidal activity againstEscherichia coli,Vibrio harveyi, andStaphylococcus aureus, while coating characterization showed increased hydrophobicity and reduced water uptake with minimal loss of adhesion. Algal attachment assays revealed significant inhibition ofIsochrysis zhanjiangensis, with an optimal loading of 8 wt%. Notably, planktonic algal growth remained largely unaffected, indicating a surface-mediated mechanism. Mechanistically, the antifoulant is proposed to interfere with quorum sensing-regulated microbial behavior, thereby suppressing initial colonization and biofilm formation. Field immersion tests over six months confirmed sustained antifouling performance with low fouling coverage and stable coating integrity. These findings demonstrate a promising strategy for environmentally compatible biofouling control in offshore aquaculture.