Biomimetic Anchors for Antifouling Polymer Brush Coatings

The development of coating technology, particularly with the use of functional polymer brushes and surface anchors, has provided a library of techniques to combat biofouling. Surface anchors remain as a major platform for direct and effective immobilization of antifouling brush coatings. More recently, biomimetic anchors and natural adhesives have emerged to promote the "greener" coating processes. The evolution of these anchoring techniques, in conjunction with recent advances in controlled radical polymerization and click chemistry, for polymer brush coatings has allowed the tailoring of surfaces for antifouling applications in a more environmentally friendly manner.