Experimental Assessment of a Conducting Polymer (PEDOT) and Microbial Biofilms as Deterrents and Facilitators of Macro-Biofouling: Larval Settlement of the Barnacle <i>Notobalanus flosculus</i> (Darwin, 1854) from Central Chile

• Main Authors: Simone Baldanzi, Ignacio T. Vargas, Francisco Armijo, Miriam Fernández, Sergio A. Navarrete
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
• Subjects: biofouling; environmental protection; coastal waters; larval settlement-biofilm interactions; <i>Notobalanus flosculus</i>; Chile
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/1/82

Maritime enterprises have long sought solutions to reduce the negative consequences of the settlement and growth of marine biofouling (micro- and macro-organisms) on virtually all surfaces and materials deployed at sea. The development of biofouling control strategies requires solutions that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Polymer-based coatings, such as the poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its potential applications, have blossomed over the last decade thanks to their low cost, nontoxicity, and high versatility. Here, using multiple-choice larval settlement experiments, we assessed the efficacy of PEDOT against the balanoid barnacle <i>Notobalanus flosculus</i> one of the most common biofouling species in Southeastern Pacific shores, and compared results against a commercially available antifouling (AF) coating, and biofilms at different stages of succession (1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks). We show that larval settlement on PEDOT-coated surfaces was similar to the settlement on AF-coated surfaces, while larvae settled abundantly on roughened acrylic and on early-to-intermediate stages of biofilm (one to four weeks old). These results are promising and suggest that PEDOT is a good candidate for fouling-resistant coating for specific applications at sea. Further studies to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of barnacle larval deterrence, as well as exposure to field conditions, are encouraged.