Research Progress on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)-based Antifouling Coatings

ZHANG Zaiyan; LI Pengfei; ZHANG Yuhao; GAO Haibin; ZHANG Shixin; LI Changjiang; CHEN Haoran; ZHANG Jiawen; XIANG Li

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.20.001

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Surface Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (20) : 1-14. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.20.001

Research Review

Research Progress on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)-based Antifouling Coatings

ZHANG Zaiyan^a, LI Pengfei^a, ZHANG Yuhao^a, GAO Haibin^a, ZHANG Shixin^a, LI Changjiang^b, CHEN Haoran^c, ZHANG Jiawen^b, XIANG Li^a,*

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Abstract

Biofouling, characterized by the nonspecific adsorption of proteins, cells, and microorganisms onto material surfaces followed by biofilm formation, poses a persistent threat to the functionality and biocompatibility of medical devices and biosensors. In recent years, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), a naturally abundant and biocompatible protein, has garnered considerable attention as a versatile material for constructing antifouling coatings. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in BSA-based antifouling coatings, and summarizes the fundamental mechanisms of biofouling, the intrinsic advantages of BSA, various modification strategies, and their practical applications in medical devices.
The paper first details the five-stage process of biofouling, from initial protein adsorption to mature biofilm detachment and dissemination. It emphasizes the role of the "conditioning film" as a precursor to microbial colonization and highlights the challenges of breaking the cycle of protein-mediated microbial adhesion. Against this backdrop, the antifouling potential of BSA emerges due to its unique spherical conformation, amphiphilic surface, and rich functional group composition, which enable it to form hydrated, non-fouling interfaces that hinder biomolecular attachment.
The paper then surveys both structural design strategies and practical applications of BSA-based antifouling coatings from two complementary modification routes: in situ structural transformation, in which BSA undergoes TCEP-induced phase transition or heat-denaturation to unfold its globular structure, expose hydrophobic domains and reactive residues, and thereby anchor more robustly to diverse substrates while significantly enhancing resistance to enzymatic degradation, fluid shear stress, and bacterial colonization; and molecular-level composite engineering, where BSA is conjugated with small molecules, zwitterionic polymers (e.g., SBMA, MPC), hydrophilic polymers, or nanomaterials via covalent or non-covalent interactions to construct multifunctional interfaces. These engineered composites form dense electrostatic hydration layers and steric barriers that deliver superior and durable antifouling performance under high-salinity, variable-pH, and protein-rich conditions. In terms of application, these tailored coatings have been successfully deployed on implantable and interventional medical devices, demonstrating marked reductions in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli adhesion, effective suppression of platelet activation and thrombosis, and long-term maintenance of blood flow in vivo. Bioinspired composite platforms—such as insect cuticle-inspired BSA@HCA and BSA-polymer conjugates—exhibit enhanced mechanical durability and interface stability under pulsatile flow and shear conditions. Meanwhile, BSA-nanocomposite coatings incorporating gold nanowires or silica nanostructures enable electrochemical biosensors to retain signal fidelity, minimize background noise, and resist multifaceted biofoulant interference during extended exposure to complex biological media, highlighting their translational potential for scalable, high-performance antifouling solutions.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Native BSA's low isoelectric point can lead to undesirable electrostatic interactions, and the stability of protein-based coatings under physiological stresses needs further optimization. Key future directions include elucidating the molecular interactions that govern antifouling behaviors, improving long-term mechanical and chemical stability in complex environments, expanding application domains beyond biomedical devices (e.g., marine antifouling), and developing scalable and eco-friendly production processes. In particular, integrating antifouling, antibacterial, and self-cleaning functionalities into a single BSA-based platform remains a promising yet underexplored frontier.
In conclusion, BSA-based antifouling coatings offer a sustainable, biocompatible, and multifunctional solution to the global challenge of biofouling. By combining natural protein structures with advanced materials science and surface engineering, these coatings hold great potential for transformative applications in healthcare, biotechnology, and environmental protection.

Key words

biofouling / BSA / antifouling coatings / modification / composite / medical devices

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ZHANG Zaiyan, LI Pengfei, ZHANG Yuhao, GAO Haibin, ZHANG Shixin, LI Changjiang, CHEN Haoran, ZHANG Jiawen, XIANG Li. Research Progress on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)-based Antifouling Coatings[J]. Surface Technology. 2025, 54(20): 1-14 https://doi.org/10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.20.001

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (52305185); The Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20220835); The Jiangsu Provincial Double-InnovationDoctor Program (JSSCBS20220160); The Nanjing Overseas Educated Personnel Science and Technology Innovation Program (Class A)