Abstract
In humid environments, the formation of biofilms and microfouling are known to be the detrimental processes that first occur on stainless steel surfaces. This is known as biofouling. Subsequently, the conditions created by metabolites and the activity of organisms trigger corrosion of the metal and accelerate corrosion locally, causing a deterioration in, and alterations to, the performance of devices made of stainless steel. The microorganisms which thus affect stainless steel are mainly algae and bacteria. Within the macroorganisms that then damage the steel, mollusks and crustaceans are the most commonly observed. The aim of this review was to identify the mechanisms involved in biofouling on stainless steel and to evaluate the research done on preventing or mitigating this problem using nanotechnology in humid environments in three areas of human activity: food manufacturing, the implantation of medical devices, and infrastructure in marine settings. Of these protective processes that modify the steel surfaces, three approaches were examined: the use of inorganic nanoparticles; the use of polymeric coatings; and, finally, the generation of nanotextures.
Highlights
When a biofilm forms on a surface, and is subsequently colonized by micro and macroorganisms, this is known as biofouling, and it can lead to the deterioration of the surface
To address the problems caused by biofouling on stainless steel surfaces, this paper reviews the mechanism of biofilm formation in three different environments: seawater, body fluids, and food processing
The environmental conditions in the food processing industry favour the proliferation of various types of microbes that can form biofilms, such as the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus [24,26]
Summary
When a biofilm forms on a surface, and is subsequently colonized by micro and macroorganisms, this is known as biofouling, and it can lead to the deterioration of the surface. To address the problems caused by biofouling on stainless steel surfaces, this paper reviews the mechanism of biofilm formation in three different environments: seawater, body fluids (blood, saliva, and urine), and food processing. A large surface area is available for the interaction of nanoparticles with the cells of microorganisms [10,11,12]; Due to the smaller size of nanoparticles, they are easier to transport into the cells of microorganisms, which facilitates their elimination or the inhibition of their development [10,11,12]; The wide spectrum of nanoparticles available with different mechanisms of biocidal action allows them to be used synergistically to inhibit the formation of biofilms and avoid micro and macro fouling [13]; The controlled release capacity of “smart”/stimuli-responsive nanomaterials. It was demonstrated that some of these “smart” nanomaterials exhibit eco-friendly properties since the controlled release capacity ensures a significant reduction in toxicity and environmental hazards compared with the conventional booster biocides [14,15]
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