Biofouling potential of surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based seawater quality sensors by Ulva spp.

Abstract

This study investigated the biofouling potential of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensor materials in the context of marine environments. Uncoated and monolithic commercial gold (Au) silicon nanopillar array SERS substrates, Au-coated carbon black nanoparticle (AuCB NP) substrates, uncoated and Au sputter-coated in-house SERS, and uncoated and Au sputter-coated glass controls were tested for biofouling potential using Ulva spp. as model biofouling organisms. The mean percentages of Ulva spp. zoospores that adhered per mm² (×10³) on the uncoated and coated Au silicon nanopillar array, AuCB NP, uncoated and Au sputter-coated in-house, and uncoated and Au sputter-coated glass substrates were 10.28%, 5.45%, 10.49%, 3.25%, 24.84%, 12.86% and 7.78%, respectively. Results indicated that surface properties such as hydrophobicity, roughness, Au sputter-coating and the presence of micro-refuges on nano- and microstructured substrates were critical to the biofouling formation.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Marine
• algae
• fouling
• nanoparticles
• nanotechnology
• characterization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This material is based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation under EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement OIA-1655221. The SEM data were acquired at the RI Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, a URI College of Engineering core facility partially funded by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR, Cooperative Agreement #OIA-1655221. This research is based upon work conducted using the Marine Science Research Facility, which is supported in part by the National Science Foundation under EPSCoR Grants #0554548, EPS-1004057 and OIA-1655221. The authors would like to thank Geoffrey Bothun, Lucie Maranda, Edward Baker, Dawn Outram, Irene Andreu, Hojat Heidari-Bafroui and Brian Sheetz for their continued support and assistance throughout this study.