Formation of substrate-independent antifouling coatings using a tyrosine-conjugated trimethylamine N-oxide derivative (Tyr-TMAO)

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is a naturally occurring osmolyte in marine organisms, has recently attracted atten tion as a zwitterionic building block for antifouling materials due to its strong hydration capabilities via hydrogen bonding. To translate this hydration-driven behavior into a practical coating strategy, a bioinspired material was designed based on the synthesis of a tyrosine-conjugated TMAO derivative (Tyr-TMAO). Upon enzymatic oxidation by tyrosinase, Tyr-TMAO spontaneously forms superhydrophilic films on a wide range of substrates under aqueous conditions, without the requirements for chemical oxidants. The resulting coatings exhibited excellent antifouling performances, effectively preventing fibrinogen adsorption and NIH 3T3 cell adhesion. This water-based, single-step approach based on enzymatic catalysis offers a broad substrate compatibility and highlights the potential of Tyr-TMAO coatings for use in marine antifouling, biomedical devices, and biosensing applications.