Design of chlorella-inspired and smart-responsive bio-microspheres and their application in eco-friendly anti-biofouling coatings

Abstract

Anti-biofouling coating materials have attracted much attention for their diverse functionality and extensive applications in various fields, such as marine facilities, biomedical apparatus, and so on. However, it is still a huge challenge for long-term anti-fouling coatings to improve the durability, safety, sustainability, eco-friendliness, and biodiversity. Herein, a novel biomimetic coating (Bio-OHMP coating) with eco-friendly and anti-biofouling performance was constructed on the basis of chlorella-inspired amino silicone oil (ASO)-core/polydopamine-shell bio-microspheres (Bio-OHMP microspheres). The Bio-OHMP microspheres were successfully fabricated through combining the hard/soft templates with high-stored hydrophobic substance. Similar to chlorella, great substance storage and delivery function were achieved for the Bio-OHMP microspheres, attributing to the larger central cavity structure of hollow mesoporous polydopamine microspheres (HMP microspheres) and the easy acquisition of NIR/Acid/Base smart-responsive self-healing properties of the Bio-OHMP microspheres. Superhydrophobic properties of the Bio-OHMP coating were originated from the hydrophobic and rough micro/nano-structured Bio-OHMP microspheres and nanoparticles. NIR/Acid/Base smart-responsive characteristics and long-termed superhydrophobic self-healing properties of the Bio-OHMP coating were gained due to the multiple-responsive Bio-OHMP microspheres, and the coating was endowed with high-efficient and large-scale healing abilities. Besides, great anti-biofouling abilities to typical biological or organic contaminants and long-period superhydrophobicity under harsh environments of the Bio-OHMP coating were all confirmed. This novel and multifunctional Bio-OHMP coating shows great prospects in anti-fouling, anti-adhesion, or other fields, while the chlorella-inspired Bio-OHMP microspheres have great potentials to be applied to other functionalized materials.