Adhesive heparin coating for marine antifouling applications

The control of marine biofouling has gained significant attention because the uncontrolled adhesion of marine organisms onto synthetic surfaces leads to serious problems. Here, we demonstrate a facile method to inhibit the adhesion of marine organisms using the sulfated polysaccharide, heparin. Heparin was conjugated with an adhesive molecule, catechol, and the resulting adhesive heparin was used as a surface coating for stainless steel, a material commonly used for marine vessels. Immersion of stainless steel surfaces in a solution of adhesive heparin resulted in a stable heparin coating. The marine antifouling property of the surface was confirmed using marine diatom adhesion assays, which revealed that the adhesive heparin coating reduced diatom adhesion by ~75%, as compared with untreated surfaces.