title: Vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles mimic vanadium haloperoxidases and thwart biofilm formation.
abstract: Marine biofouling--the colonization of small marine microorganisms on surfaces that are directly exposed to seawater, such as ships' hulls--is an expensive problem that is currently without an environmentally compatible solution. Biofouling leads to increased hydrodynamic drag, which, in turn, causes increased fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Tributyltin-free antifouling coatings and paints based on metal complexes or biocides have been shown to efficiently prevent marine biofouling. However, these materials can damage the environment through metal leaching (for example, of copper and zinc) and bacteria resistance. Here, we show that vanadium pentoxide nanowires act like naturally occurring vanadium haloperoxidases to prevent marine biofouling. In the presence of bromide ions and hydrogen peroxide, the nanowires catalyse the oxidation of bromide ions to hypobromous acid (HOBr). Singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)) is formed and this exerts strong antibacterial activity, which prevents marine biofouling without being toxic to marine biota. Vanadium pentoxide nanowires have the potential to be an alternative approach to conventional anti-biofouling agents.
authors: Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Analytische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099                 Mainz, Germany.
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Natalio
authors: Rute
authors: R
authors: André
authors: Aloysius F
authors: AF
authors: Hartog
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Stoll
authors: Klaus Peter
authors: KP
authors: Jochum
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Wever
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Tremel
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D057219:Biofouling; D001965:Bromides / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater; D012767:Ships; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D017968:Vanadium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001965:Bromides; D017968:Vanadium Compounds; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C066075:vanadium pentoxide; D010544:Peroxidases