Influence of Sharklet‐Inspired Micropatterned Polymers on Spatio‐Temporal Variations of Marine Biofouling

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience 2022-11, Vol.22 (11), p.e2200304-n/a
• Main Authors: Védie, Elora, Barry‐Martinet, Raphaëlle, Senez, Vincent, Berglin, Mattias, Stenlund, Patrik, Brisset, Hugues, Bressy, Christine, Briand, Jean‐François
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air bubbles; Artificial seawater; Biofouling; Biofouling - prevention & control; Biology; Chemical analysis; Chemical Sciences; chemistry; Coastal sites; Colonization; Contact angle; Earth Sciences; Flow cytometry; Gene amplification; Gene expression; Gene sequencing; Immersion; marine biofouling; Marine environment; Marine microorganism; Mechanical properties; metabarcoding; Micro topography; Microorganisms; Micropatterned; Micropatterning; Microscopic analysis; Microtextured polymer; microtextured polymers; microtopography; Oceanography; Organisms; polymer; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; prevention and control; Sciences of the Universe; Seawater; Spatio-temporal variation; Submerging; Surface characteristics; Surface Properties; surface property; Temporal variations; Water analysis; Wettability; Wetting; Wetting characteristics
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200304

This article aims to show the influence of surface characteristics (microtopography, chemistry, mechanical properties) and seawater parameters on the settlement of marine micro‐ and macroorganisms. Polymers with nine microtopographies, three distinct mechanical properties, and wetting characteristics are immersed for one month into two contrasting coastal sites (Toulon and Kristineberg Center) and seasons (Winter and Summer). Influence of microtopography and chemistry on wetting is assessed through static contact angle and captive air bubble measurements over 3‐weeks immersion in artificial seawater. Microscopic analysis, quantitative flow cytometry, metabarcoding based on the ribulose biphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) gene amplification, and sequencing are performed to characterize the settled microorganisms. Quantification of macrofoulers is done by evaluating the surface coverage and the type of organism. It is found that for long static in situ immersion, mechanical properties and non‐evolutive wettability have no major influence on both abundance and diversity of biofouling assemblages, regardless of the type of organisms. The apparent contradiction with previous results, based on model organisms, may be due to the huge diversity of marine environments, both in terms of taxa and their size. Evolutive wetting properties with wetting switching back and forth over time have shown to strongly reduce the colonization by macrofoulers. This paper investigates the influence of bioinspired micropatterned polymers on the settlement of marine microfouling and macrofouling. Sharklet‐based micropatterns are replicated on polymers with various chemical and mechanical properties. The micropatterned substrates are immersed at two contrasting sites and in two different seasons. The main question is what parameters significantly affect the density and diversity of microfouling and macrofouling.