Surface topography for non-toxic bioadhesion control

• US 7,143,709 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Carman, Michelle L., Feinberg, Adam W., Schumacher, James F., Estes, Thomas G., Brennan, Anthony B., Baney, Ronald H., Wilson, Leslie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/202,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20060219143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 114/222, 114/67.R, 405/216, 422/6
• US Class Current: 114/222
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/36 using mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/04 Preventing hull fouling anti-fouling paints C09D5/16
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00206 Processes for functionalising a surface, e.g. provide the surface with specific mechanical, chemical or biological properties
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/1662 Synthetic film-forming substance
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/06 Pressure galleries or pressure conduits; Galleries specially adapted to house pressure conduits; Means specially adapted for use therewith, e.g. housings, valves, gates driving inclined galleries E21D9/02; valves in general F16K; conduits in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/002 Provisions for preventing vegetational growth, e.g. fungi, algae or moss
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2253/12 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls

Abstract

A coated surface for resisting or enhancing bioadhesion includes at least one patterned polymer including coating layer having a plurality of features attached to or projected into a base surface. The features each have at least one microscale (<1 mm) dimension and have at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry. The patterned coating layer preferably provides an average roughness factor (R) of from 4 to 50. The coating layer resists or enhances bioadhesion as compared to the base surface.

Claims

1. A coated surface topography for resisting bioadhesion, comprising:

at least one coating layer that comprises a polymer, said coating layer having a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into a base surface, said plurality of features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 0.5 and 5 μ

m in at least a portion of said coating layer, said coating layer resisting bioadhesion as compared to said base surface.

2. The coated surface of claim 1, wherein a chemical composition of said coating layer is different as compared to a composition of said base surface.

3. The coated surface of claim 1, wherein said coating layer comprises a non-electrically conductive material.

4. The coating of claim 1, wherein said coating layer provides an average roughness factor (R) of from 4 to 50.

5. The coating of claim 1, wherein an elastic modulus of said coating layer is between 10 kPa and 10 MPa.

6. The coating of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart features have a substantially planar top surface.

7. The coating of claim 1, wherein said spacing is between 0.5 and 2 μ

m.

8. The coating of claim 1, further comprising at least one multi-element plateau layer disposed on a portion of said coating layer, wherein a spacing distance between elements of said plateau layer provide a second feature spacing being substantially different as compared to said first feature spacing.

9. The coating of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of elastomers, rubbers, polyurethanes and polysulfones.

10. An article having a surface coating with topography for controlling bioadhesion, comprising:

a base surface; and

at least one coating layer that comprises a polymer, said coating layer having a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features attached to or projected into a base surface, said plurality of features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 0.5 and 5 μ

m in at least a portion of said coating layer, said coating layer resisting bioadhesion as compared to said base surface.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein said base surface comprises a roofing material.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein said base surface comprises an inner surface of a water inlet pipe for a power plants.

13. The article of claim 10, wherein said base surface comprises an implantable device or material.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein said implantable device or material comprises a breast implant, a catheter or a heart valve.

15. The article of claim 10, further comprising at least one multi-element plateau layer disposed on a portion of said coating layer, wherein a spacing distance between elements of said plateau layer provide a second feature spacing being substantially different as compared to said first feature spacing.

16. The article of claim 10, wherein an elastic modulus of said coating layer is between 10 kPa and 10 MPa.

17. The article of claim 10, wherein said plurality of spaced apart features have a substantially planar top surface.

18. The article of claim 10, wherein said coating layer provides an average roughness factor (R) of from 4 to 50.