Bioactive Polymer Surfaces to Control Marine Biofouling

Ana Cordeiro (IPF/MBC), Carsten Werner

The development of non-toxic surfaces effectively impairing its colonization by microorganisms and macrofoulers has a strong impact in a wide variety of industrial processes. Within the framework of the FP7 Project AMBIO, researcher at IPF/MBC started to develop bioactive surfaces with the ability to selectively disrupt the adhesion mechanisms of several target organisms occuring in marine environments. Emphasis is put on the use of enzymes conjugated to polymer coatings. Since various interfacial phenomena play a role in bioadhesion, the rational development of antifouling surfaces includes detailed surface analysis studies.

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