State-of-art functional nature-inspired surface modification strategies for combat biomedical biofouling: Challenges and new opportunities

Preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on material surfaces remains a significant medical and societal concern despite medical advancements such as antibiotic discovery. Drug resistance and the advent of novel infections are two issues in this environment that need attention. Therefore, there has been a surge in the development of materials with anti-biofouling properties. These materials have undergone significant advancements and are specifically designed to combat bacteria and prevent biofilm formation. Modern technologies like photothermal modification with photodynamic agents and quaternary ammonium salt modification with antibiotics further enhance the effectiveness of anti-biofouling surfaces. By drawing inspiration from nature, we can gain valuable insights into developing broad-spectrum and high-performance anti-biofouling materials. This analysis delves into the current challenges and promising future directions of nature-inspired combat biofouling coating. Relying solely on a single nature-inspired anti-biofouling approach as the sole solution in real-world scenarios is not feasible due to biocompatibility and long-term stability limitations. This review introduces the multifunctional nature-inspired anti-biofouling strategy, a recent development with the potential to overcome the limitations of single nature-inspired approaches. This strategy integrates various anti-biofouling mechanisms by combining nature-inspired modifications with multiple anti-biofouling strategy. By combining these strategies, the resulting coatings can exhibit enhanced anti-biofouling efficacy and improved durability. The purpose of this review is to evaluate various nature-inspired surface modifications designed to enhance resistance to fouling. It will assess the limitations of each approach and contemplate potential future research directions in the field of nature-inspired biomedical anti-biofouling materials.