title: Functionalised inherently conducting polymers as low biofouling materials.
abstract: Diatoms are a major component of microbial biofouling layers that develop on man-made surfaces placed in aquatic environments, resulting in significant economic and environmental impacts. This paper describes surface functionalisation of the inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANI) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and their efficacy as fouling resistant materials. Their ability to resist interactions with the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was tested using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The capacity of the ICP-PEG materials to prevent settlement and colonisation of the fouling diatom Amphora coffeaeformis (Cleve) was also assayed. Variations were demonstrated in the dopants used during ICP polymerisation, along with the PEG molecular weight, and the ICP-PEG reaction conditions, all playing a role in guiding the eventual fouling resistant properties of the materials. Optimised ICP-PEG materials resulted in a significant reduction in BSA adsorption, and > 98% reduction in diatom adhesion.
authors.affiliation: a ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute , University of Wollongong , Wollongong , Australia.
authors.forename: Binbin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Alex R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.forename: Gordon G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hanks
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Molino
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002417:Cattle; D017377:Diatoms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry*; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D011758:Pyrroles; C416807:polyaniline; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C067635:polypyrrole; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: biofouling; conducting polymer; diatom; poly(ethylene glycol); polyaniline; polypyrrole