Antifouling hydrogel with different mechanisms:Antifouling mechanisms, materials, preparations and applications

Biofouling is a long-standing problem for biomedical devices, membranes and marine equipment. Eco-friendly hydrogels show great potential for antifouling applications due to their unique antifouling characteristics. However, a single antifouling mechanism cannot meet a wider practical application of antifouling hydrogels, combined with multiple antifouling mechanisms, the various antifouling advantages can be played, as well as the antifouling performance and service life of antifouling hydrogel can be improved. For the construction of the antifouling hydrogel with multiple antifouling mechanisms, the antifouling mechanisms that have been used in antifouling hydrogels should be analyzed. Hence, this review focus on five major antifouling mechanisms used in antifouling hydrogel: hydration layer, elastic modulus, antifoulant modification, micro/nanostructure and self-renewal surface construction. The methods of exerting the above antifouling mechanisms in hydrogels and the materials of preparing antifouling hydrogel are introduced. Finally, the development of antifouling hydrogel in biomedical materials, membrane and marine related field is summarized, and the existing problems as well as the future trend of antifouling hydrogel are discussed. This review provides reasonable guidance for the future and application of the construction of antifouling hydrogels with multiple antifouling mechanisms.