title: Effect of ultrasound on cyprid footprint and juvenile barnacle adhesion on a fouling release material.
abstract: In our earlier studies, we have demonstrated that low and high intensity ultrasound can prevent barnacle cyprid settlement. In this study, we found that ultrasound treatment reduced the adhesion of newly metamorphosed barnacles up to 2 days' old. This was observed in the reduction of adhesion strength of the newly settled barnacles from ultrasound treated cyprids on silicone substrate compared to the adhesion strength of barnacles metamorphosed from cyprids not exposed to ultrasound. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to analyze the effect of ultrasound on barnacle cyprid footprints (FPs), which are protein adhesives secreted when the larvae explore surfaces. The ultrasound treated cyprids were found to secrete less FPs, which appeared to spread a larger area than those generated by untreated cyprids. The evidence from this study suggests that ultrasound treatment results in a reduced cyprid settlement and footprint secretion, and may affect the subsequent recruitment of barnacles onto fouling release surfaces by reducing the ability of early settlement stage of barnacles (up to 2 days' old) from firmly adhering to the substrates. Ultrasound therefore can be used in combination with fouling release coatings to offer a more efficient antifouling strategy.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR, 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602, Singapore. Electronic address: gsf830@hotmail.com.
authors: Shifeng
authors: S
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, 377 Lin Quan Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiang Su 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors: Boo Cheong
authors: BC
authors: Khoo
authors: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119223, Singapore.
authors: Serena Lay Ming
authors: SL
authors: Teo
authors: Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
authors: Shaoping
authors: S
authors: Zhong
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
authors: Chwee Teck
authors: CT
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore; National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, 377 Lin Quan Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiang Su 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors: Heow Pueh
authors: HP
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D057219:Biofouling; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D012828:Silicones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D001468:Thoracica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones
keywords: AFM; Adhesion strength; Barnacle cyprid footprint; Settlement; Silicone substrates; Ultrasound