Advances in modified antimicrobial peptides as marine antifouling material

Abstract

Biofouling is the undesirable attachment of organisms and their by-products on surfaces. It has become a severe problem in the industries that utilize devices and facilities in the marine environment. Several antifouling strategies have been developed, but many have adverse effects on numerous species, the surrounding environment, and marine devices. However, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising non-toxic biomaterial that can modify the submerged surfaces to inhibit biofouling. AMPs are getting recognized as a highly potent material as they exhibit strong antimicrobial activity against fouling organisms and resistance towards biofilm formation. This review discusses the latest developments made in recent years regarding applying AMPs as prominent marine antifouling material. The various properties of AMPs, including structural, functional characteristics, and mechanism of action, are presented. Different types of modification of AMPs to improve their stability, efficacy, and activity against fouling organisms are discussed in detail. Furthermore, future perspectives and significant improvements required to make AMPs an integrative part of the marine antifouling process are reviewed.

Keywords: Antifouling; Antimicrobial peptides; Biofilm; Marine biofouling; Modifications.