Preventing mussel adhesion using lubricant-infused materials

Amini S, Kolle S, Petrone L, Ahanotu O, Sunny S, Sutanto CN, Hoon S, Cohen L, Weaver JC, Aizenberg J, Vogel N, Miserez A (2017)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Science American Association for the Advancement of Science

Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Book Volume: 357

Pages Range: 668-673

Journal Issue: 6352

DOI: 10.1126/science.aai8977

Abstract

Mussels are opportunistic macrofouling organisms that can attach to most immersed solid surfaces, leading to serious economic and ecological consequences for the maritime and aquaculture industries. We demonstrate that lubricant-infused coatings exhibit very low preferential mussel attachment and ultralow adhesive strengths under both controlled laboratory conditions and in marine field studies. Detailed investigations across multiple length scales-from the molecular-scale characterization of deposited adhesive proteins to nanoscale contact mechanics to macroscale live observations-suggest that lubricant infusion considerably reduces fouling by deceiving the mechanosensing ability of mussels, deterring secretion of adhesive threads, and decreasing the molecular work of adhesion. Our study demonstrates that lubricant infusion represents an effective strategy to mitigate marine biofouling and provides insights into the physical mechanisms underlying adhesion prevention.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nicolas Vogel Professur für Partikelsynthese

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials (EAM)

Involved external institutions

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) SG Singapore (SG) Harvard University US United States (USA) (US) Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) SG Singapore (SG)

How to cite

APA:

Amini, S., Kolle, S., Petrone, L., Ahanotu, O., Sunny, S., Sutanto, C.N.,... Miserez, A. (2017). Preventing mussel adhesion using lubricant-infused materials. Science, 357(6352), 668-673. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aai8977

MLA:

Amini, Shahrouz, et al. "Preventing mussel adhesion using lubricant-infused materials." Science 357.6352 (2017): 668-673.

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