Natural products as antifouling compounds: recent progress and future perspectives

Abstract

Since early 2008, an increasing number of countries have ratified an international treaty to ban the application of antifouling (AF) coatings based on organotin compounds (eg tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin). As a result, the demand for environmentally friendly, non-toxic or low-toxicity AF compounds and technologies (green AF agents) has become an urgent reality. Marine coatings based on Cu₂O and various other biocides have a negative impact on the environment and they must eventually be replaced by new, effective, and environmentally friendly AF compounds. This mini-review describes important AF compounds discovered from a variety of organisms from 2004 until mid 2009, and discusses recent and general trends in the discovery of AF compounds. Finally, a perspective on the future of AF compound development is presented. The discussion is aimed at updating scientists and engineers on the current challenges facing AF research.

Keywords:

• antifouling
• biofouling
• marine natural products
• antifouling compounds
• microbial metabolites

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams, the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRRDA06/07.Sc02), and an Award, No. SA-C0040/UK-C0016, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).