Pharmaceuticals as antifoulants: concept and principles

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Marine biofouling, the accumulation of organisms on submerged surfaces, poses significant economic and operational challenges.
• Current antifouling coatings often rely on toxic biocides, raising environmental concerns.
• Pharmaceuticals, with well-characterized properties, offer a potential alternative source for antifouling agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pharmaceuticals as novel antifouling agents compatible with existing coating technologies.
• To identify compounds with high settlement inhibition and low toxicity against barnacle larvae.
• To explore the potential of repurposing pharmaceuticals for marine applications.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three pharmaceutical compounds were tested for toxicity and inhibition of barnacle larvae settlement.
• Compounds were tested at concentrations ranging from 40 ng/mL to 5 µg/mL.
• The study considered compounds with diverse chemical structures and mechanisms of action.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two out of 23 tested pharmaceutical compounds demonstrated significant effects on barnacle larvae settlement.
• The tested compounds exhibited a wide range of water solubility and vertebrate mechanisms of action.
• High inhibition of settlement and low toxicity were observed for some compounds.

Conclusions:

• Pharmaceuticals represent a viable and efficient source for developing new antifouling agents.
• The chemical diversity and known properties of pharmaceuticals facilitate compatibility with existing antifouling coating technologies.
• Early consideration of coating compatibility and environmental fate is crucial for successful antifouling agent development.