The Next Generation of Integrated Eco-Friendly Anti-Biofouling and Anti-Biocorrosion Marine Natural Products.

Marine organisms are known to biosynthesize complex anti-biofouling secondary metabolites offering a direct source of inspiration for scalable eco-friendly anti-biofouling and anti-biocorrosion agents for maritime industry-related applications. Biofouling and biocorrosion are interconnected issues that cannot be effectively addressed using traditional single-function antifouling or anticorrosion materials. To address these issues, a new approach is needed to search for dual eco-friendly anti-biofouling and anti-biocorrosion marine natural products. Such approach focuses on identifying molecules that aim to meet three key criteria: (1) environmentally friendly and biodegradable molecules with minimal toxicity, (2) biosurfactant properties to prevent microbial adhesion, and (3) disruption of bacterial biofilm formation by interfering with bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) systems, thereby reducing the risk of resistance development. This review explores the challenges and mechanisms driving biofouling and biocorrosion, and evaluates eco-friendly strategies, particularly those based on marine natural products, for antifouling and anticorrosion applications. It also highlights emerging sustainable solutions by outlining the rigorous criteria needed to guide the discovery of the next generation of environmentally friendly antifouling and anticorrosion agents.